Pak Sarzameen Party barred from using national flag as its own

By
Sarfraz Raja
|

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has barred Pak Sarzameen Party from using the national flag for political representation.

Two requests were filed with the ECP, stating the party should not use the national flag as its own and that the party's name should be changed as it was from on a verse in the national anthem.

A hearing was held on Thursday over a request filed by Sajid Kiyani against the party using the national flag for political purposes. The ECP made an announcement in favour of the request, saying PSP cannot use the Pakistani flag as its own. As per the commission, the flag can also not be used at public gatherings.  
However, the commission rejected the other request in which petitioner Arshad Kasuri had said the party change its name as it cannot be based on a verse from the national anthem.  

While talking to the media after the hearing, the lawyer of PSP, Mubin Qazi, said they would challenge the commission's decision. "Should the public wave the flag of another country, if not the national one?" he asked.

Earlier, the party had said the issue did not fall under the ambit of ECP to announce a decision on.