A sudden surge of party tickets being returned to the PML-N was seen in southern Punjab on the last day of allotment of tickets, as at least eight lawmakers announced they would contest election in independent capacity.

Interestingly, all of them were allotted the ‘jeep’ symbol to contest the elections on. However, they were not the only ones hoping to ride the jeep to victory in the upcoming elections: Chaudhry Nisar will also be contesting from all four seats in Rawalpindi on the same symbol. Another disgruntled PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri — who had parted ways with the party a few days ago after developing differences over distribution of party tickets — has been allotted the ‘jeep’ symbol. Coincidence? Twitter finds it all very amusing.

ZarrarKhuhro @ZarrarKhuhro

All the jeep symbol candidates should for the ‘chalti ka naam gaari’ party.

Salman Masood @salmanmasood

Allocation of ‘jeep’ as an election symbol to Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan shows someone in election commission has a sardonic sense of humor.

IftikharFirdous @IftikharFirdous

How come there’s no candidate that’s been allotted the symbol of a spaceship? - Cycles & Jeep’s are so 90s.

Salahuddin Yousafzai @Salahuddintg

Almost every independent candidate from Punjab is now being allotted Jeep as an electoral symbol and guess who is going to drive that Jeep? Yes #ChNisar.

Basit @iBasit

All the pmln candidates who returned their party tickets today applied for a jeep symbol same as that allocated to Ch nisar. #Coincidence.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018