Pakistan elections to be delayed? Elections Commission flags order for changing party symbols

livemint.com:

Pakistan has said that if orders keep coming to change party symbols ahead of the crucial general assembly elections, the poll body would have to postpone the elections. General elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan on 8 February 2024 to elect the members of the 16th National Assembly.

The Poll body has told the Pakistani Senate that Pakistan elections “cannot be postponed". According to a report by Dawn, ECP in a statement pointed out that election symbols were being changed through various forums.

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party launched its campaign as he was accused of having country's powerful military's support which have made him a front-runner to win upcoming general elections. Meanwhile, cricketer-turned politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan is still in jail as candidates from his party will contest the elections as independents using different election symbols after the country’s top court barred them from their cricket bat image.

The ECP further said that after the allotment of election symbols, it had already ordered the printing of ballot papers to the three printing corporations and the printing work had started a day before. "If the process of changing the election symbols continues in the same way, there is a fear of election delay because the ballot papers will have to be reprinted for which time is already limited and on the other hand, the special paper available for the ballot papers will also be lost," he said.