KARACHI: 150 political parties were fortunate enough to receive unified party symbols from the ECP while PTI “independent” candidates compete for independent election symbols with the ECP.
Sher (tiger), starting with the typical suspects, has found a comfortable position in the PML-N. The PPPP will use its iconic arrow (teer) symbol to contest the elections. As of right now, the PTI has lost all of its symbols, and its nominees will run as independent candidates on other symbols, with its splinter faction, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Nazriati), acting as a “batsman.”
The ‘eagle’ will be the symbol of Jehangir Tareen’s Istekham-e-Pakistan Tehreek, the newest party on the scene, as they go into the elections.
For the 2024 elections, the Awami National Party will continue to use its “lantern” symbol, while the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan will continue to use its “book” sign. As the Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan, led by Afaq Ahmed, has hung on to its “candle,” the MQM-Pakistan will be flying its “kite” during its election campaigns, just as in the past, to encourage people to vote for them. With the return of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, the “scale of justice” is also.
In the meantime, the Balochistan National Party will continue brandishing its “axe” as before, while the TLP has decided to keep its “crane” emblem.
With its ‘loudspeaker’ symbol, the Haqooq Khalq Party is poised to make a loud impression during the elections, while the Mohsin Dawar-led National Democratic Movement will take to the polls with the’mountain’ sign.
The more intriguing portion of the ECP’s symbol list consists of a few lesser-known parties that have earned their fair share of unusual symbols, while the normal and more mainstream symbols are assigned to the usual and more mainstream parties. Despite the unfavorable association with the crocodile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Such is planning to run for office using the ‘crocodile’ symbol, while Move on Pakistan is planning to dress as a ‘ostrich’ and attend polling places.
The Barabri Party Pakistan is attempting to demonstrate that the pen is mightier than the sword by running for office with a “pen.” This symbol has not been adopted by any previous party and speaks more to our parties’ obsession with power than intelligence. The Tehreek-e Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan is providing a ‘generator’ to our ‘powerless’ voters while keeping a practical check on things.
Talks about lowering gun violence appear vacuous because at least two political parties have been granted symbols associated with weapons: the Pakistan Muslim League (KQK) will field a “gun” in the elections, while the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan has chosen to use a “revolver.”
Pakistan’s Aman Tehreek has oddly abandoned the dove in favor of the “missile.”The Pakistan Awami Raj will run on the emblem of the “jharoo,” or broom, presumably alluding to tidying up the mess the nation finds itself in.
The following emblems have been obtained by a few of the surviving parties: the Pak League: ‘apple’; the Pasban Democratic Party: ‘balloons’; the Tehreek-e-Azmat-e-Pakistan: ‘basket’; the first Democratic Front: ‘bell’; the All Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah): ‘bicycle’.
Tehreek-e-Tarraqi-o-Kamal: ‘binoculars’; Khadmeen-e-Sindh: ‘boat’; Tehreek-e-Difa-e-Pakistan: ‘bow’; Pakistan National Reformist Party: ‘bridge’; Kissan Ittehad: ‘bucket’; All Pakistan Kissan Ittehad: ‘bullock cart’; Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party Pakistan: ‘bunch of grapes’; Pakistan Muslim League (J): ‘bus’.’butterfly’ is the Hazara Qaumi Mahaz Pakistan; ‘camel’ is the Balochistan National Party (Awami); ‘cannon’ is the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Islam; ‘cap’ is the Mohib-e-Wattan Nowjawan Inqilabion Ki Anjuman (MNAKA);
“chair”; the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League: “chair”; the Qaumi Watan Party: “chiragh” (lamp); and the Sindh United Party: “cap.”The Muttahida Ulema-e-Mashaikh Council of Pakistan has combat aircraft; the Nazria Pakistan Council has combat tanks; the Kissan Ittehad Awami Party has corn; and the Balochistan Awami Party has cows. The Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan (Imam Noorani) has a china; the Hamdardan-e-Watan Pakistan has a coat; the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Tehreek has coins; the Mustaqbil Pakistan has a comb.
The Peoples Muslim League (Pakistan) is represented by a cup and saucer; the Hazara Democratic Party is represented by a crescent; the Saraikistan Democratic Party is represented by a deer; and the Pakistan Supreme Democratic Party is represented by a diamond.
The Pakistan Muhafiz Party (National) is a fan; the Pakistan Muslim Alliance is a fish; the Pakistan Peoples Party is an elephant; the Jamote Qaumi Movement is an electric pole; and the Tehreek Tabdili Nizam-e-Pakistan is an elephant.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shariat Party has a fort, the Jannat Pakistan Party has a fountain, the Sulaiman Khel Qabail Movement has a gate, the Pakistan Justice & Democratic Party has a gavel, and the Pakistan Aam Admi Movement has a flower pot.
Pakistan People’s Alliance Party (A): hammer; Pakistan Awami Quwat: hanger; Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed): helicopter; Awami Tehreek: ghulail; All Pakistan Minority Movement: giraffe.
The Awami League of Pakistan: hockey; the Aam Log Party of Pakistan: hut; the Awami Muslim League of Pakistan: ink pot with pen; the Sunni Ittehad Council: horse; the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Eithad: house; the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Emaan: hud hud; the Awam League: human hand.
The All Pakistan Mutahida League: kangaroo; the Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party: iron; the Pakistan Islamic Republican Party: jeep; the Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek: jug; The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shadbad is a knife; the Pakistan Awami Jamhuri Ittehad is a leaf; the Pakistan Masiha Party is a king; the Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan (Noorani) is a key; and the All Pakistan Mutahida League is a kangaroo.
