Aesthetic value: The (not so) creative side of the Election Commission

Local government candidates decry choice of objects for election symbols

PESHAWAR:

As soon as the sun goes up on May 30, the searing summer heat will not be the only obstacle residents of the provincial capital will have to overcome while they flock to polling stations to choose local government office-bearers.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has worked out a not so inventive way of putting the voters’ sense of judgment to test. A wide array of unconventionally creative election symbols has been curated and random allotment has already been completed. While symbols like generator plugs might catch the eye of many, others like empty bottles have not gone down well with several – the latter’s Pashto proverbial reference is that of an impaired person.



Therefore voters in Peshawar will now have a dual responsibility as they step into the polling booth – making an informed decision and ensuring the correct symbol has been stamped. “It is like choosing a six amongst a list of nines,” said Muhammad Shehryar, Jamaat-e-Islami leader in a Charsadda union council. He said the commission has allotted a pencil and a syringe to candidates who are up against each other on a particular youth seat. “I don’t think many can differentiate between the two images when the symbols come out in print,” he said, citing more examples of the photostat machine, printer and the washing machine. Shehryar said some of the symbols are downright ridiculous and impossible to campaign with. “The common man has little interest in the semiotics of these images,” he said.

While candidates with symbols like ducks, hens, harmoniums, drums or clothes hangers are parading the streets with scores of each in their arms, those who have been allotted kangaroos or ballistic missiles are still unsure whether procurement will be a good idea or not. Therefore this time around, candidates will not only be judged for their qualification and manifestos, but also for their aesthetic sense.

Turning the screws

The list comprises most items generally found on a dining table or a toolkit. “How will my villagers differentiate between the screw and the screwdriver amidst the hustle and bustle of polling?” questioned a perturbed candidate, Asghar Khan, who is counting on the symbol to drive him to victory. “It is the same for the bat and batsman,” he added. Asghar was of the view the confusion will invariably affect poll results.



Never seen one

Samiullah, a youth seat hopeful, believes his electoral symbol mocks his voters. “How will they distinctly recognise what a keyboard is when most haven’t even seen one in real life?” he said.

Misrepresentation

The Express Tribune also spoke about poll preps with another candidate, Zeeshan Khan, who was confidently recalling all the promises he has made to his voters until the question of the election symbol was brought up. “My symbol is the traffic police warden. When my posters went up in the area, people thought the warden is some supporter of mine,” he said.

A truck driver by profession, Farooq Shah is contesting LG polls for the second time. Despite multiple requests, his previous symbol – the chair – was allotted to another candidate while he has been asked to hold his campaign in place with the fork. Shah has therefore installed a 12x5ft steel fork on the roof of his vehicle. “This is the only suitable method I thought of adopting,” said the general council hopeful.

When approached for a comment, K-P election commissioner’s PRO Sohail Ahmed said the symbols have been allotted randomly as per law. “It is the candidates’ responsibility to represent them however they wish to,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2015.