Rawalpindi commissioner admits elections were rigged, resigns
Pakistan
Says he is surrendering to police
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha resigned from his post on Saturday, admitting that elections in his division were “rigged”.
Speaking at a press conference at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chattha revealed that he had attempted suicide earlier in the day due to overwhelming guilt.
He stated that he was turning himself in to the police, taking responsibility for the incident.
Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.
The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.
Chattha disclosed that after attempting suicide during the Fajr prayer, he decided to come forward with the truth. He confessed to experiencing sleepless nights due to the betrayal of trust toward the people and the country.
Chattha said army conducted elections in a fair manner and there was no need for reelection.
Chattha noted that he witnessed presiding officers crying over the situation.
Following his confession, Chattha was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.
The Rawalpindi division comprises Attock, Murree, Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Chakwal districts.
PTI DEMANDS INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS
PTI leader Barrister Gohar demanded an immediately inquiry into the allegations leveled by Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha. He said the commissioner's confession had serious repercussions and the beneficiaries of these manipulated elections should also be revealed.
He said his party was of the opinion that returning officers and district returning officers should be appointed from the judiciary.
Barrister Gohar said elections should be declared null and void in Rawalpindi division. He said election results should be based on Form-45.
ECP REJECTS COMMISSIONER'S ALLEGATIONS, ANNOUNCES PROBE
Taking prompt notice of the allegations of results manipulation, the Election Commission of Pakistan said the commission will hold an immediate inquiry into the matter.
The commission strongly rejected the allegations and said any commissioner had no direct role in conduct of elections. He said the commissioner was neither a presiding officer nor a returning or district returning officer.
The spokesperson said any officer or official of election commission had issued no direction to Rawalpindi commissioner for result tempering.
RANA SANA SAYS COMMSSIONER WAS NOT MENTALLY STABLE
Reacting to the allegations leveled by Rawalpindi commissioner, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said Liaquat Ali Chattha was a mentally unstable person.
He said rigging in elections was not punishable by death as stated by the bureaucrat.
