TOBA TEK SINGH: The PTI candidate, former provincial minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad Gujjar has been allotted ‘water cooler’ as his election symbol instead of ‘goat’, by the returning officer (RO) for NA-98 (Samundri) on Wednesday.

Gujjar had moved the Lahore High Court with the plea that ‘goat’ symbol was allotted to him by the RO concerned against his will.

Issuing order on the plea, the LHC had directed the RO to reconsider his decision.

The RO has now informed the PTI candidate that instead of ‘goat’ he has been allotted ‘water cooler’ symbol.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has barred all the ROs from changing election symbols of poll candidates without the commission’s permission as the order for printing of ballot papers has already been placed.

The commission has warned that change of symbols at this stage may cause confusion and could result in a delay in the holding of the Feb 8 elections.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2024