ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday sought to retain ‘bat’ as its election symbol for the upcoming general election.

The PTI formally submitted an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to this effect, a spokesperson for the party said, adding: “It is legally required to request and receive one’s preferred electoral symbol prior to the election. Only the bat symbol will be used by PTI candidates to contest national and provincial elections.”

The Election Commi­ssion of Pakistan (ECP) had on Saturday asked political parties to submit applications for the allotment of election symbols ahead of the general election.

The electoral watchdog had further said that until July 19, applications can be submitted with the party leader’s signature.

The ECP had also asked the parties to include a list of the symbols they prioritise with their applications, saying the party leader’s signature is required for it.

According to the ECP, “every application must include the address of the political party’s head office”. Meanwhile, the ECP has asked the political parties to file their statements of accounts for financial year 2021-22 before August 29.

According to an ECP spokesman, political parties were required in terms of Section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017, read with Section 204 of the Act ibid and rule 159 & 160 of the Election Rules, 2017, thereof, to file with the ECP their statements of accounts for financial year, ended on June 30.

The Section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017, provides that a political party shall, in such a manner as may be prescribed, submit to the Commission, within 60 days from the close of a financial year, a consolidated statement of its accounts audited by a chartered accountant on Form-D containing: (a) Annual income and expenses; (b) Sources of its funds; and (c) Assets and liabilities.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023