“The Political Parties, having been allotted Election Symbols for General Election-2024, are mandatorily required to ensure 5% representation of women candidates on general seats under the provision of Section 206 of the Election Act, 2017,” the electoral watchdog said in a statement.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers to contest in general elections, which are scheduled to take place on February 8, ended on December 24, 2023.

A day earlier, the ECP allotted election symbols to independent candidates after a few delays as the PTI was fighting a legal battle over its iconic election symbol ‘bat’ in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.