The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) fears that changing the symbols of candidates might cause further delays in the already postponed general elections.
Pakistan’s general elections, originally scheduled earlier, are now set for February 8. The Supreme Court has insisted on this date. However, some political parties are trying to change the symbols they allocate. This leads to problems. The ECP has already started printing ballot papers. Changing symbols now means reprinting, which is time-consuming and costly.
Impact of Symbol Changes and Printing Challenges
There is a potential delay in elections for some constituencies. This would happen if courts allowed candidates to change their symbols. A meeting led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja discussed this. They noted the risk of election delays and waste of special ballot paper.
Pakistan faces a balance of payment crisis. The ECP highlighted the huge paper waste this could cause. In 2018, 800 tonnes of paper were used for ballots. This year, it’s estimated to be 2,070 tonnes. About 11,700 candidates participated in 2018, while 18,059 are expected in 2024. The number of ballot papers increased from 220 million in 2018 to 260 million in 2024.
The ECP is considering options to address this issue. They might postpone elections in constituencies if symbol changes don’t stop. This comes after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s legal challenges over symbol allocation. The PTI lost its ‘bat’ symbol and is contesting as independents.
Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan. They help voters, especially the illiterate, recognize candidates and parties. With over 40% of Pakistan’s population illiterate, symbols on ballots are vital. The literacy rate in rural areas is around 50%.
Pakistan’s election process is complex. It involves thousands of candidates and dozens of parties. Each ballot paper lists many options. For this election, 150 symbols are for political parties and another 174 for independent candidates.
