ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: The Election Commission on Saturday allotted election symbols to 17 political parties, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party, which got their traditional symbols of Kite and Lantern, respectively.

The process of allotment of election symbols was initiated by the commission on Saturday following the announcement of election schedule.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, got the symbol of cricket bat. In the last election the PTI was allotted the symbol of Lamp (Chiragh).

Deputy Convener of the MQM, Shoaib Bukhari and ANP’s former senator Aqil Shah appeared at the Election Commission to receive the election symbol.

Interestingly, Pakistan Freedom Party got the symbol of “Lota” which has become a tag for turncoats and those switching loyalties.

Both the representatives of the ANP and the MQM were quite pleased on receiving their traditional party symbols.

“Kite is the symbol on which we have been contesting elections since 1988,” Shoaib Bukhari told Dawn. He said the MQM’s vote bank was fully intact and the party would sweep elections in the urban areas of Sindh.

Aqil Shah said it was good to have the same election symbol on which the ANP had been contesting the previous elections.

According to the officials of Election Commission, Pakistan Muslim League(N) would be allotted election symbol on Monday.

Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian has applied for the symbol of Arrow on which its parent party, PPP, has been contesting elections since 1988.

Two splinter groups of PPP — PPP Sherpao and PPP Shaheed Bhutto — are also claimants for the symbol of Arrow.

Pakistan Muslim League (N) has asked for the symbol of Tiger on which the party had first contested elections in 1993 and won 73 seats.

In 1997 elections, the PML(N) again secured the symbol of Tiger and won a “massive majority” in the National Assembly by virtually sweeping the polls in Punjab.

“No other party has claims over the symbol of Tiger and we hope we will get it,” PML(N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq told Dawn.

Pakistan Muslim League (QA) has sought the symbol of Cycle, on which the PML(N) led by Mian Nawaz Sharif had won the elections in 1990 from the platform of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad.

Later, after a split in the alliance, the symbol of Cycle was allotted to Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo) which eventually became Chatta League.

Following are the names of 17 political parties along with the symbols allotted to them by the Election Commission.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (Bat), Pakistan Ittehad Tehreek (Butterfly), Sindh National Front (Car), Pakistan Gharib Party (Chair), Jamote Qaumi Movement (Charpai), Pakistan Awami Party (Cup & Saucer), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Nifaz-i-Shariat) (Elephant), Pakistan Muslim Alliance (Fish), Awami Qiadat Party (Gun), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Kite), Pakistan Workers Party (Ladder), Pakistan Freedom Party (Lota), Awami National Party (Lantern), Pakistan Seraiki Party (Takhti), Punjab National Party (Turban), Jamhoori Wattan Party (Wheel) and Tehreek Jamhoriat Pakistan (Bulb).

REVISED SCHEDULE: Election Commission announced a revised programme on Saturday for consideration of applications submitted by political parties for allotment of election symbols.