The upcoming elections on February 8 are gaining attention for more than just political rhetoric.
The Election Commission of Pakistan‘s (ECP) decision to assign unusual symbols to candidates, including a bowl, shoe, harmonium, chimta, hen, bottle, and pomegranate, has sparked controversy.
Eggplant
Aamir Mughal, who is supported by incarcerated ex-PM Imran Khan, is using an aubergine, or ‘baingan’, as a symbol to rally voters. Mughal claimed that his campaign had caused an increase in eggplant prices.
“This symbol is giving me an extraordinary fame,” Mughal told the media. “Everyone wants to look at it as they know the symbol belongs to Imran Khan’s candidate,” he went on to say.
Bed
Ejaz Gaddan expressed dissatisfaction with his assigned symbol, a bed. He is running from Bahawalpur. Although he initially interpreted the bed symbol as representing rest and finality, Gaddan now views it as an insult by authorities.
Although he initially interpreted the bed symbol as symbolic of rest and finality, Gaddan now considers it as an insult by authorities.
“This is not an election, this is cruelty,” he said. “My symbol is already available in every household. I don’t have to introduce it to my constituents.”
Bottle
When Kohat’s former Minister Shehryar Afridi was assigned the bottle symbol, he was frustrated. This symbol is frequently interpreted in Pashtun culture as implying emptiness or even alcoholism.
“A bottle doesn’t only represent alcohol, it also represents medicine,” he said. “That’s why we’ve transformed our electoral symbol into a medicine bottle — so that we can address all societal ailments.”
Candidates dealing with awkward symbol assignments are:
- Salman Akram Raja from NA-128 holding a ‘racquet’
- Latif Khosa assigned the English letter ‘K’ to NA-122.
- Mehr Bano Qureshi with ‘chimta’ (a pair of tongs) for NA-151.
- Shoaib Shaheen assigned a’shoe’ for NA 46.
- Shandana Gulzar at NA-30 Peshawar with a ‘piyala’ (bowl)
- Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in NA-10 Buner with a ‘kettle’
- Jamshed Dasti allocated a ‘harmonium’ for NA-175.
To read our blog on “Public holiday officially announced for general elections,” click here