The Hum Awam Pakistan Party (HAPP) officially petitioned the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the designation of the bat as its electoral symbol.
Muhammad Amjad Chaudhry, Chairman of HAPP, confirmed the submission of their request for the bat symbol to the ECP. In a media briefing on Saturday, Ahmer Zaman Khan, the party’s Additional Secretary General, explained that their original symbol, the ‘lock,’ was withdrawn due to non-submission of returns. The party now appeals to the commission to reconsider their earlier application for the allocation of the bat symbol, which became available after the ECP revoked it from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Referring to the ECP’s decision to withdraw PTI’s electoral symbol due to non-compliance with intra-party election regulations, Ahmer Zaman Khan emphasized that this decision underscores the supremacy of the Constitution and the law.
“We have the right to request this symbol under the Constitution, and we have made our request to the Election Commission, putting our full trust in its decision-making.”
The recent revocation of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML)’s registration and the withdrawal of their ‘eagle’ symbol, now assigned to the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, adds another layer to the evolving symbol landscape.
Currently, the details of symbols allocated to political parties are not available on the commission’s website. The section designated for the list of symbols allotted to political parties currently reads, “Will be available soon.” The fate of PTI potentially regaining its symbol might become apparent next week if it goes to court.
As of Saturday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf remains listed as the 99th political party on the Election Commission’s website. Notably, the name of Imran Khan mentioned as the party chairman in the December 20 list of political parties, is no longer present.
