There are 150 political parties that were lucky enough to get unified party symbols from the ECP.
KARACHI: While PTI's 'independent' candidates fight for independent electoral symbols with the ECP, there are 150 political parties that were lucky to get unified party symbols from the ECP.
Starting with the usual suspects, Sher (tiger) has comfortably found his place in the PML-N. The PPPP will contest the elections with its traditional arrow symbol (teer). The PTI, as we know it, now has no symbols and its nominees will now contest as independent candidates with different symbols, although its splinter group, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Nazriati), will play as a 'batsman'.
The new kid on the block Jehangir Tareen's Istekham-e-Pakistan Tehreek will head to the elections with 'eagle' as its symbol. The Awami National Party will retain its “lantern symbol” for the 2024 elections, while Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan still retains the “book” symbol. The MQM-Pakistan, as in the past, will fly their 'kite' during their election campaigns to get people to vote for them, while the Afaq Ahmed-led Mohajir Qaumi Pakistan Movement has held on to its 'sail'. The 'scale of justice' is also back with Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the TLP has retained its 'crane' symbol and the Balochistan National Party will wield its 'axe' like last time. The Mohsin Dawar-led National Democratic Movement will enter the electoral field with the 'mountain' symbol, while another new party, the Haqooq Khalq Party, is all set to make a loud appearance during the elections with its 'speaker' symbol.
With the usual and more conventional symbols assigned to the usual and more conventional matches, the most interesting part of the ECP symbol list comes with some lesser-known matches that have received their fair share of wacky symbols. Ignoring the negative connotation associated with the crocodile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Such will contest its elections using the “crocodile” symbol, while a party called Move on Pakistan will risk its neck on election day dressed as an “ostrich.” “.
In a move to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword, the Barabri Pakistan Party will contest the elections with the 'pen', a symbol that has not been adopted by any older party, a further statement about the fascination of our parties for power rather than intellect. Keeping practicality in mind, the Tehreek-e Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan is offering our “powerless” voters a “generator”.
All talk of reducing gun violence seems baseless as at least two parties have been given gun-related symbols: the Pakistan Muslim League (KQK) will enter the electoral field with the “gun” as its symbol, while the Tehreek- e-Tahafuz-e -Pakistan has settled for the 'revolver'.
Strangely enough, Pakistani Aman Tehreek abandoned the pigeon and went with the “missile”. Pakistan's Awami Raj will compete using the 'jharoo' (broom) symbol, probably hinting at cleaning up the mess the country is in.
Some of the remaining parties have managed to obtain the following symbols: Pak League: 'apple'; the Democratic Party Pasban: 'balloons'; the Tehreek-e-Azmat-e-Pakistan: 'basket'; the first Democratic Front: 'campana'; Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah): 'bicycle'.
The Tehreek-e-Tarraqi-o-Kamal: 'binoculars'; the Khadmeen-e-Sindh: 'ship'; the Tehreek-e-Difa-e-Pakistan: 'reverence'; Pakistan National Reform Party: 'bridge'; the Kissan Ittehad: 'bucket'; the All Pakistan Kissan Ittehad: “ox cart”; Pakistan Awami Pashtoonkhwa National Party: 'bunch of grapes'; Pakistan Muslim League (J): 'bus'.
The Hazara Qaumi Mahaz Pakistan: 'butterfly'; Balochistan National Party (Awami): 'camel'; Islam Tehreek-e-Labbaik: 'cannon'; the Mohib-e-Wattan Nowjawan Inqilabion Ki Anjuman (MNAKA): 'cap'; Sindh United Party: 'car'; Pakistan Markazi Muslim League: 'president'; the Qaumi Watan Party: 'chiragh' (lamp).
Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan (Imam Noorani): Chitrali cap; Hamdardan-e-Watan Pakistan: shelter; Istehkam-e-Pakistan Tehreek: Coins; the Mustaqbil Pakistan: comb; Pakistan's Muttahida Ulema-e-Mashaikh Council: fighter jets; Nazria Council Pakistan: combat tank; Kissan Ittehad Awami Party: maize; Balochistan Awami Party: cow.
The Hazara Democratic Party: crescent; the Tabdeeli Pasand Party: crown; Muslim People's League (Pakistan): cup and saucer; Pakistan Freedom Movement: date tree; Saraikistan Democratic Party: deer; Pakistan Supreme Democratic Party: diamond.
The Jamote Qaumi Movement: electric pole; the Tehreek Tabdili Nizam-e-Pakistan: elephant; Ittehad-e-Ummat Pakistan: Energy Saver; Pakistan Muhafiz Party (National): fanatic; Pakistan Muslim Alliance: fish; Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto): fist; Pakistan Aam Admi Movement: flower pot; the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan: football; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shariat Party: strong; Jannat Pakistan Party: source; the Sulaiman Khel Qabail Movement: door; the Justice and Democratic Party of Pakistan: gavel.
The Awami Tehreek: ghulail; Pakistan's entire minority movement: giraffe; Pakistan People's Alliance Party (A): hammer; the Awami Quwat of Pakistan: hanger; Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed): helicopter.
Pakistan Awami League: hockey; Ittehad Sunni Council: horse; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Eithad: house; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Emaan: hud hud; the Awam League: human hand; Aam Log Pakistan Party: hut; Awami Muslim League Pakistan: inkwell with pen.
Pakistan's Rah-e-Haq Party: iron; Pakistan Islamic Republican Party: jeep; the Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek: jug; All Pakistan League Mutahida: Kangaroo; Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani): key; Pakistan's Masiha Party: king; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shadbad: knife; Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan (S): ladder; Pakistan Awami Jamhuri Ittehad: sheet.
Originally published in The News
