Award of similar election symbols to candidates irks PHC
Pakistan
Justice Anwar questioned whether ECP did it deliberately that it allotted symbols which looked alike
PESHAWAR (Web Desk) – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) expressed dismay over allotting election symbols to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates that look similar to each other.
Justice Ijaz Anwar while hearing the plea of PTI leader and former provincial minister Kamran Bangash, a candidate from provincial constituency PK-82, on Wednesday remarked that the party had been deprived of its election symbol on one hand, and on the other the candidates have allotted such symbols which are difficult to distinguish.
The counsel for Bangash submitted that his client has been given violin as a symbol while his opponent has been allotted guitar. Both the symbols looked similar on the ballot paper. And the name of the opposing candidate is also Kamran, he added.
He said an application was submitted in time but the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) rejected it.
However, the counsel for the ECP claimed that both the symbols looked different.
Justice Anwar questioned him whether you [ECP] did it deliberately that you allotted such election symbols which look alike.
The counsel submitted that ballot papers were being printed. Change in election symbol would cause delay in polling, he maintained.
The court issued notice to returning officer and adjourned the hearing.
