The deadline for the allotment of election symbols to candidates for the upcoming general elections in 2024 has been extended once again.
Initially set until 7 pm, the Election Commission initially declared no further extensions; however, it later extended the deadline to 11 pm. Now, the deadline has been further pushed to 10:30 pm.
In parallel, the electoral watchdog issued directives to returning officers, emphasizing that symbols of different parties should not be assigned to candidates from a single party. This directive came in response to revelations about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Plan B.
The ECP spokesperson mentioned that the extension of time is in consideration of the Supreme Court’s decision.
The Commission's directive underscores the provisions of the Election Act, highlighting that under this legislation, a candidate submits their party affiliation certificate. Moreover, a person is not permitted to be a member of more than one party simultaneously.
The ECP expressed concern about deceptive applications that aim to manipulate the electoral process, emphasizing the need to uphold the integrity of the election system.
