The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has recently communicated the list of election symbols for various political parties to the returning officers, outlining the symbols assigned to 145 parties, excluding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its bat symbol.

Under the directives of the ECP, the lion symbol was granted to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the arrow symbol to the Pakistan Peoples’ Party parliamentarian (PPPP), the eagle symbol to Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and the batsman symbol representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Nazriati (PTI-N).

The electoral watchdog has allocated symbols such as a turban for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentarians, a bicycle for Pakistan Muslim League Jinnah (PML-Jinnah), a sword for Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), a candle for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and a kite symbol for the United Pakistan Movement (UPM).

Additionally, symbols have been designated to various other parties, including a book for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JI) Pakistan, an Ax for Balochistan National Party (BNP), a Scale for Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, a Crane for Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), and a Human Eye symbol for Pakistan Awami Party (PAT).

The Returning Officers are scheduled to formally assign these symbols on January 13, as provided by the ECP.

The Commission explained that the omission of the bat symbol for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was due to the party’s failure to conduct intra-party elections, rendering PTI ineligible for an election symbol for the 2024 Elections.

Moreover, the ECP has reported that several parties, including All Pakistan Tehreek (APT), Awami Party Pakistan (APP), National Awami Party of Bahawalpur, All Pakistan, Nizam Mustafa Party, National Peace Council Party, and Sunni Tehreek, have also faced withholding of their election symbols.