As the December 27 rally came to a close, Benazir Bhutto spoke to a crowd of cheering PPP loyalists and made a casual reference that has a place only in Pakistani politics: “The arrow is the symbol of Pakistan’s solidarity and sovereignty,” she said. While, following her assassination, the idea of Pakistan’s solidarity seems questionable, the prominence of political symbols carried on to the February 18 elections.

Before every general election, political parties apply to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the allocation of symbols. Unless multiple parties are vying for the same symbol—which can occur when parties split—everyone gets the symbol they request.

According to Amjad Chaudhary, director of public relations for the chief minister of the Punjab province: “The election symbols serve two purposes. First, those who cannot read can identify party symbols on the ballot paper. Second, the election symbols are often connected with the platforms of the parties and serve to differentiate them from others.”

With the arrow as its election symbol, the leftist PPP of Benazir Bhutto promises a progressive platform of “Food, Clothing, and Shelter” for all. Mustafa Jalil Qureshi, an economics student, explained that, for him, the arrow has religious connotations as well, “evoking stories and images of successful Muslim warriors of early Islam.”

The conservative Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has two main factions campaigning under different icons. One of the factions, PML-Q, supports Musharraf and has chosen the bicycle as its party symbol: a way of identifying with the poor classes who have no other means of transportation. PML-N, by contrast, has a lion as its symbol, which stands for bravery and non-conformity.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a formidable Islamic alliance of political parties, chose the Qur’an as the party symbol, making its religious— perhaps even fundamentalist, according to some—foundations clear to all voters.

Symbols might not be that crucial in Pakistani politics, which many consider to have more to do with personalities than parties. But symbols nonetheless distinguish parties from one another. What symbol will the people of Pakistan choose to represent them? Only Election Day will tell. In the meantime, images like the arrow may point them to a decision.

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