Irregularity in allotment of symbol: PPP writes letter to CEC

PPP member listed as independent candidate and allotted symbol "kettle," says Taj Haider

By Asim Yasin
January 15, 2024
PPP workers carry flags and banners during a party rally. — AFP/File
PPP workers carry flags and banners during a party rally. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Sunday, expressing its concerns over an irregularity in allotment of an electoral symbol to Muhammad Faiz Bhatti, a candidate from PP-163, Punjab.

PPP In-Charge Election Cell Senator Taj Haider said in his letter that Muhammad Faiz Bhatti submitted his PPPP ticket to the returning officer concerned on January 12, 2024, but he had been listed as an independent candidate and allotted the symbol ‘kettle’, instead of the ‘arrow’.

He stated that the change raised serious concerns about integrity of the electoral process and “we fear that this may be a deliberate attempt to undermine the PPP candidate, and can compromise the fairness of the upcoming elections”.

"Your timely actions are requested to rectify the anomaly by ensuring allotment of arrow symbol to Muhammad Faiz Bhatti for PP-163," he said in the letter. Senator Taj Haider urged the CEC to investigate how such an error occurred.