OBJECTION PML (N) THAT NO POLITICAL PARTY EXISTS WITH THE NAME OF PML REJECTED.
Islamabad, the 10th December, 2007.—The Spokesman of Election Commission has stated that an objection was filed on behalf of PML (N) before the Election Commission of Pakistan in its Meeting held on the 9th December, 2007 for allocation of symbols to political parties under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq, Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan that PML has applied for symbol ‘Bicycle’ but no political party with the name of PML exists and that the party applied for symbol ‘Bicycle’ is registered with the name of Pakistan Muslim League (Q). The Election Commission dismissed the objection through a separate Order, which reads as under:
“Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Vice President, Pakistan Muslim League (N) filed an objection before the Election Commission in its Meeting, dated 09-12-2007 stating that the Pakistan Muslim League has applied for symbol “Bicycle” for use in General Elections, 2007-08 whereas no political party with the name of “Pakistan Muslim League” is registered. He has added that in the previous elections held in 2002, this party was registered as “Pakistan Muslim League(Q)” as such, the name of this party as “Pakistan Muslim League” will create confusion amongst the voters. He prayed that for free, fair and just election, the party PML headed by Ch. Shujaat Hussain may be directed to use the full name as “PML(Q)”.
“2. A common application was moved on 17th June, 2004 by the leaders of following political parties for unification/merger of their parties with PML(Q) in the new name as “Pakistan Muslim League”:
(1) Pakistan Muslim League (Zia)
(2) Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo)
(3) Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah)
(4) Pakistan Muslim League (Functional)
(5) Sindh Democratic Alliance.
“3. After hearing the representative of the aforesaid parties, the application for unification/merger was allowed subject to all just exceptions by the Election Commission vide its Order, dated 18-06-2004 with the directions that the documents of “Pakistan Muslim League” filed with the Election Commission be kept on record.”
“4. Since, the Election Commission has already allowed to use the name as “Pakistan Muslim League” as aforesaid, the objection raised by Syed Zafar Ali Shah merits no consideration and is accordingly dismissed.”