Change of symbol: Court suspends ECP decision
Book symbol of JUI-F was changed due to qualms about it being misrepresented as a holy book.
In a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), JUI-F claimed it had used the “Book” symbol during the past three general elections. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A capital court on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) order changing the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) election symbol.
In a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday, JUI-F claimed it had used the “Book” symbol during the past three general elections. The petition says that during a meeting on November 30, 2011, the ECP changed the symbol’s shape from a closed book, to an open book with Urdu alphabet written on one page and figures on the other.
The IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui suspended the ECP’s order and adjourned the case till March 21.
The ECP had changed the symbol because candidates might refer to the book as being the holy Quran during election campaigns to influence voters, the petition stated, adding that ECP Deputy Director Nazar Abbas initiated the change of symbols.
The party claimed that it was kept in the dark about the change and its chief only got to see the new symbol around September 2012.
The JUI-F claimed it informed the ECP in November 2012 that a change in the election symbol would affect the party’s performance in the 2013 general elections, because its voters are used to the closed book symbol.
The ECP then asked the JUI-F to appear before the commission on January 3 and argue the matter, according to the petition’s text.
But later, in an order on February 1, 2013, the ECP maintained that it would not reverse the change in the election symbol’s shape, the petition stated.
The JUI-F petitioned the court to declare the order illegal on several grounds including that the symbol was changed without any “cogent reason” or formal complaint from a third party and that the allocation of symbols orders do not give the ECP power to change election symbols.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.
A capital court on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) order changing the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) election symbol.
In a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday, JUI-F claimed it had used the “Book” symbol during the past three general elections. The petition says that during a meeting on November 30, 2011, the ECP changed the symbol’s shape from a closed book, to an open book with Urdu alphabet written on one page and figures on the other.
The IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui suspended the ECP’s order and adjourned the case till March 21.
The ECP had changed the symbol because candidates might refer to the book as being the holy Quran during election campaigns to influence voters, the petition stated, adding that ECP Deputy Director Nazar Abbas initiated the change of symbols.
The party claimed that it was kept in the dark about the change and its chief only got to see the new symbol around September 2012.
The JUI-F claimed it informed the ECP in November 2012 that a change in the election symbol would affect the party’s performance in the 2013 general elections, because its voters are used to the closed book symbol.
The ECP then asked the JUI-F to appear before the commission on January 3 and argue the matter, according to the petition’s text.
But later, in an order on February 1, 2013, the ECP maintained that it would not reverse the change in the election symbol’s shape, the petition stated.
The JUI-F petitioned the court to declare the order illegal on several grounds including that the symbol was changed without any “cogent reason” or formal complaint from a third party and that the allocation of symbols orders do not give the ECP power to change election symbols.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.