Ejaz Gaddan romantically describes his constituency in the eastern Punjab province as his ancestral homeland — his people’s “final resting place”. Perhaps fittingly, he was assigned a symbol of a bed, AFP reports.

“They tried to humiliate us with the symbols they are giving us. Some candidates feel embarrassed telling people what symbol they have gotten,” the 50-year-old Bahawalpur candidate complained.

“This is not an election, this is cruelty.”

Referring to his symbol ‘charpoy’, he said, “It is a very useful household item. When we are alive, the charpoy allows us to rest. When we die, it takes us on our final journey,” said Gaddan.

“My symbol is already available in every household. I don’t have to introduce it to my constituents.” Referring to the PML-N’s electoral symbol, he said, “The lion is a bloodthirsty beast. There is no place in our society for a beast.”