Hafeez Ahmed Khan
Electoral symbols are unique pictorial identifiers that the election commission assigns to political parties and candidates. Electoral symbols help voters identify the party candidates on the ballot paper, especially in a country where a large number of people are illiterate. The symbols are easier to recognize than the names of the candidates, which may not be familiar to many voters. Electoral symbols also reduce the chances of confusion or error in the voting process, as voters can simply stamp on their preferred symbol.
Electoral symbols reflect the identity and ideology of the political parties and candidates. They are often chosen to convey a message or a vision to the voters, such as a tiger for strength, an arrow for progress, or a cricket bat for sportsmanship. Electoral symbols also help parties and candidates to build their brand and image in the public eye, and to differentiate themselves from their rivals.
Electoral symbols enable parties and candidates to campaign effectively and efficiently. They are used on banners, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials to attract the attention and support of the voters. Electoral symbols also facilitate the mobilization and coordination of party workers and supporters, who can easily rally behind a common symbol. Electoral symbols also allow parties and candidates to benefit from the reserved seats that are allocated to political parties based on their performance in the elections.
The issue of denial of the party election symbol to several PPP ticket-holders, especially those in Punjab, is a serious one that needs to be resolved quickly. However, the ECP seems to be making weak excuses instead of taking action. The ECP claims that the ballot papers have already been sent for printing, and that changing the electoral symbols of candidates as per judicial orders would cause a delay in the polls. This is a flimsy argument that does not justify the ECP’s inaction. The ECP has already damaged its reputation by taking away the PTI’s election symbol on questionable grounds, and forcing its candidates to run as ‘independents’ on different symbols. This has disappointed millions of PTI supporters in Punjab and KP, who feel betrayed by the ECP. If the ECP does not heed the demands of the political parties and respect the court orders in this matter, it will only make itself and the upcoming polls more dubious than ever. Many people are already suspicious of the ECP’s motives, and accuse it of favouring the PML-N in Punjab by giving it an unfair advantage on Feb 8.
Election symbols play a vital role in the electoral process, as they help voters recognize the party candidates on the ballot paper. This is especially important in a country where a large number of people are illiterate. By denying the candidates and the voters the party symbols of their choice, the ECP is deliberately undermining the foundations of parliamentary democracy. The essence of democracy is the right of the people to choose the political parties that they believe will serve them best. However, the ECP is not willing to address the concerns over the denial of party symbols to the candidates, and is making lame excuses to avoid doing so. This shows that the ECP is not interested in correcting a mistake that could affect the results of the elections in many constituencies in Punjab. This will not only harm the chances of the affected parties on the polling day, but also erode the confidence of the public in the ECP, if there is any left.
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