Zardari, Bilawal choose arrow as election symbol
ECP says electoral symbol allotted to PPP led by Bilawal is ‘Two Swords’ while PPP Parliamentarians’ symbol is...
ECP says electoral symbol allotted to PPP led by Bilawal is ‘Two Swords’ while PPP Parliamentarians’ symbol is ‘Arrow’. PHOTO: PID/FILE
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announced on Thursday that the ‘arrow’ will be the common electoral symbol of both PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, disproving rumours suggesting that they would contest by-elections under different symbols.
“An application (will be filed) with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allotment of common electoral symbol under the Political Party Order of 2002,” the spokesperson for Bilawal House in Karachi said.
Bilawal exudes confidence ahead of by-elections
According to ECP record, the electoral symbol allotted to PPP led by Bilawal is ‘Two Swords’ while PPP Parliamentarians’ given symbol is ‘Arrow’. Bilawal, instead of contesting by-polls on the platform of his own party (PPP), will get a ticket from his father, who is the president of the PPP Parliamentarians (PPPP) under some sort of an alliance to avoid any legal hitch.
Independent political observers and law experts cited Section 5 (3) of the Political Parties Order of 2002, according to which: “A person shall not be a member of more than one party at a time.”
But constitutional experts and Sindh government’s law adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahad said that there was no bar on any political leader to contesting the election under the banner of another party. “Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) contested the election on single symbol of ‘book’. So, what is wrong if PPP and PPPP follow this precedent,” he said.
Other parties set to shatter Bilawal’s dreams of winning unopposed
On the other hand, PPP’s opponents are yet to decide whether to field separate candidates or forge an alliance.
In this connection, disgruntled leaders of PPP, led by Safdar Abbasi, Mumtaz Bhutto of the Sindh National Front (SNF), Rashid Soomro of JUI-F, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML F) and local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have started consultations to devise a strategy to deter the possibility of Bilawal winning unopposed from the Larkana seat.
Opposition parties were divided in the previous elections, but if a strong alliance is forged, Bilawal may face a tough time to secure this seat. Bilawal House’s spokesperson, however, said that the opposition parties’ dream of defeating Bilawal would be shattered.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2017.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announced on Thursday that the ‘arrow’ will be the common electoral symbol of both PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, disproving rumours suggesting that they would contest by-elections under different symbols.
“An application (will be filed) with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allotment of common electoral symbol under the Political Party Order of 2002,” the spokesperson for Bilawal House in Karachi said.
Bilawal exudes confidence ahead of by-elections
According to ECP record, the electoral symbol allotted to PPP led by Bilawal is ‘Two Swords’ while PPP Parliamentarians’ given symbol is ‘Arrow’. Bilawal, instead of contesting by-polls on the platform of his own party (PPP), will get a ticket from his father, who is the president of the PPP Parliamentarians (PPPP) under some sort of an alliance to avoid any legal hitch.
Independent political observers and law experts cited Section 5 (3) of the Political Parties Order of 2002, according to which: “A person shall not be a member of more than one party at a time.”
But constitutional experts and Sindh government’s law adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahad said that there was no bar on any political leader to contesting the election under the banner of another party. “Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) contested the election on single symbol of ‘book’. So, what is wrong if PPP and PPPP follow this precedent,” he said.
Other parties set to shatter Bilawal’s dreams of winning unopposed
On the other hand, PPP’s opponents are yet to decide whether to field separate candidates or forge an alliance.
In this connection, disgruntled leaders of PPP, led by Safdar Abbasi, Mumtaz Bhutto of the Sindh National Front (SNF), Rashid Soomro of JUI-F, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML F) and local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have started consultations to devise a strategy to deter the possibility of Bilawal winning unopposed from the Larkana seat.
Opposition parties were divided in the previous elections, but if a strong alliance is forged, Bilawal may face a tough time to secure this seat. Bilawal House’s spokesperson, however, said that the opposition parties’ dream of defeating Bilawal would be shattered.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2017.