PTI tells ECP to allot ‘lota’ symbol to coalition parties

Fawad says such logo will well define those who are involved in horse-trading in upcoming by-polls

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allot “lota” as an election symbol of the ruling coalition parties in the upcoming Punjab by-elections.

In an open letter penned to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry recommended allotting them this symbol.

Fawad said, “Pakistan is going through a serious crisis as a result of a dangerous ‘external conspiracy’. On the one hand, the economy is under crisis while on the other, the Constitution and politics are in trouble.”

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He mentioned that electoral alliances were formed in the centre and the provinces starting from March 8, which led to the ousting of PTI’s democratically elected prime minister through a no-confidence motion.

The PTI leader said that the worst form of horse-trading in the history was carried out at Sindh House in Islamabad. In Punjab, there were 20 assembly members who deviated from the Constitution and the law, trampled their conscience over petty financial gains, and as a result, the commission declared their seats vacant and issued a schedule for holding by-elections, he added.

Read more: By-elections on 20 Punjab Assembly seats on July 17

The letter said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which had been promoting shameful rituals like horse-trading and floor crossing in Punjab, announced an electoral alliance.

“The PTI is now practically fighting this multi-party alliance as the opposition,” the former minister said.

Fawad said all these parties should be considered an electoral unit, be allotted a common symbol and prevented from using their individual symbols. “In our opinion, ‘lota’ is the most suitable election symbol for this multi-party alliance,” he added. “This symbol will help the public make a decision about voting during the election.”