Petition moved to bar MMA from using 'book' as election symbol

Lawyers argue 'book' used as religious symbol to exploit gullible public

ISLAMABAD: Two lawyers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Insaf Lawyer’s Wing have urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to remove ‘book’ as a symbol for the upcoming general polls to prevent exploitation by political parties.

It is pertinent to note that the symbol was used by Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA) in 2002 and  2008 general elections.



In a letter to the authority, Khurram Zeeshan and Mudassir Jan Advocate stressed that book is a symbol with many connotations including relating it to the Holy Quran. They claim the symbol is exploited by political parties “to the maximum” and used as a “religious matter to influence minds of gullible public.”

The Insaf lawyers further add that the symbol “incorrectly but deliberately interpreted and referred” as the holy book to the common man. The petition stated that religious sensitivities are exploited on the basis of an election symbol as parties use it to their advantage leaving others with little convincing powers. “This problem is very obvious in rural areas where illiteracy is high.”

Putting forth their concern if the book is allotted, the duo asserts it will deny opposing parties’ equal opportunity and unduly influence outcome in the general elections. They have requested ECP to remove book from the list of symbols altogether.