RAWALPINDI: An independent candidate for the cantonment board elections has threatened self-immolation after he was not allotted an election symbol of his choice.

Mohammad Afzal Khan was associated with the PPP but decided to contest the elections as an independent candidate from Ward 3, Namak Mandi. He plunged into distress after his appeal for the election symbol of “zebra” was dismissed and he was allotted “tubelight”.

Khan had filed a petition with a local court for the allocation of “zebra” as the election symbol and launched his election campaign. However, the court directed him to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which has already decided not to allot “zebra” as an election symbol to anyone because of its similarity with “lion”, the symbol of the ruling PML-N.

When the candidate approached the ECP, he was allotted the symbol of “tubelight”.

After the decision of the commission, Khan reportedly started sending text massages to his supporters that he would kill himself within the next 24 hours.

Sources said the local police and the administration had been intimated about the text messages being sent by the candidate.

Despite repeated attempts, Khan could not be contacted as his mobile phone remained switched off.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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