ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe the allegations made by the Rawalpindi Commissioner concerning the recent general elections.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Election Commission held today in the federal capital, attended by the esteemed members of the Commission.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, alongside Punjab Election Commissioner Babar Hasan Bharwana, participated in the meeting virtually.
The committee, to be led by a senior member of the Election Commission, will be responsible for gathering statements from Returning and Deputy Returning Officers in Rawalpindi.
A timeframe of three days has been set for the committee to compile and present its findings to the Election Commission.
Earlier today, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chattha claimed 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.
