RAWALPINDI: A senior Pakistani bureaucrat, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chattha, has tendered resignation from his post after claiming that the results of the February 8 elections in the Rawalpindi division were manipulated. Speaking to media persons at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the Commissioner claimed that irregularities took place during the elections in Rawalpindi. He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) were involved in poll rigging in the recent election.
Liaquat Ali Chattha said, “Stabbing the country in its back does not let” him sleep. “I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this,” he said.
“I should be punished for the injustice I have done and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished,” he said.
The former bureaucrat said that he contemplated suicide but then resolved to present matters before the public. “It is my request to the entire bureaucracy to not do anything wrong for all these politicians,” he said.
After the allegations of Commissioner Rawalpindi, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab ordered an ‘impartial probe’ into the Commissioner’s claims of poll irregularities. Mohsin Naqvi ordered an “impartial investigation” into accusations of manipulation of election results made by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.
The CM took notice of the allegations in a statement; he also directed that a “high-level committee” be formed to conduct a probe into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has strongly rejected the allegations Chattha has made against the chief election commissioner.
The Election Commission of Pakistan strongly rejected the allegations of Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatta regarding poll irregularities in the Rawalpindi division, a statement said on Saturday. The press release of the ECP said that no official of the ECP had issued directives to Commissioner Rawalpindi for alleged changes in the results of elections in the Rawalpindi division.
The Election Commission of Pakistan announced the complete results of the February 8 polls in Pakistan, and the now political parties are holding political consultations to form the new government. PML-N nominated former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as its candidate for the PM slot while PTI named Omar Ayub as a candidate for the PM position.
Earlier, Punjab caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir has also “rejected” the claims of manipulation of election results made by Liaquat Ali Chattha. He said that Liaquat Ali Chattha had “not shown any proof” of the alleged tampering of poll results.
Similarly, consultations are underway between the political parties to form government in all provinces of the country.
