RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha claimed Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and the Election Commission of Pakistan of “rigging” the results of the election on Saturday, adding another level of controversy to the already contentious results. The ECP and the CJP refuted Chattha’s accusations.
These accusations were made nearly a week after the polls on February 8, the day PTI and other political parties formed a national campaign against election tampering, alleging “massive rigging” had deprived them of their mandate.
At the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the commissioner—who has since been moved to the Services and General Administration Department (SGAD) in Lahore—was supposed to address the media on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) arrangements. However, he made the astonishing assertions in an unofficial conversation with reporters rather than to the presser.
Mr. Chattha claims that he was answering a moral call to reveal facts on purported electoral irregularities. Additionally, he charged Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja with being involved in the “rigging plan.”
The former commissioner announced his decision to step down and accepted accountability for overseeing the misappropriation of public funds by manipulating the outcomes of 13 National Assembly seats across six districts in Rawalpindi Division.
According to Mr. Chattha, individuals who were “losing” the elections “were made to win,” and “an organized manner at some offices” was still being used to defend the rigged results.
He declared, “I am taking blame for all of this wrongdoing and informing you that the chief justice and the chief election commissioner are also fully involved in this.” He said that because of apparent election tampering, the candidates who had received up to 70,000 votes were proclaimed the runners-up.
He went on, “We forced independent candidates to lose by using phony stamps.”
He declared, “I should be hanged at Kutchery Chowk for the injustice, and others who participated in this unjustly should also be punished.”
He claimed that after “stabbing the nation in its back,” he was unable to go to bed at night.
The cop claimed that although he was about to commit himself, he held back because he had to inform the public and subsequently step down from his position.
Additionally, Mr. Chattha suggested that the bureaucracy cease taking “illegal orders.”
Office closed
The departing commissioner turned himself in to the police following the news conference, and they took him into custody and locked up his office.
According to a local official, the administration locked the office to stop record tampering.
A police official clarified that although the commissioner was in “custody” following the allegations, he had not been arrested because there were no proceedings against him.
Mr. Chattha has been relocated to an unidentified location.
According to a senior district administration official, election materials and data have been safeguarded, and security for poll workers, returning and district returning officials has been boosted.
He said that even though the ECP had already received the election results, the official record containing the ROs had also been safeguarded.
CJP denies accusations
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the CJP both denied the accusations, with the former stating that the Supreme Court only heard cases pertaining to elections.
The CJP stated that in light of Mr. Chattha’s claims of rigging, proof ought to be presented.
He said that his involvement in the polls on February 8 was restricted to giving President Arif Alvi and the chief election commissioner instructions regarding the date.
The top justice noted the judges on the Supreme Court have not issued any orders for elections while speaking with media in Islamabad.
“Let me clarify this. We just told them to sit down and make a decision because the president and CEC were having a disagreement,” he said.
“It’s another matter entirely if there was a third party that opposed the holding of the elections.”
According to CJP Isa, the court cannot file a contempt case because of the claims of rigging. “I myself oppose contempt.”
ECP creates a committee
In addition to rejecting the accusations, the ECP established a committee to look into the former commissioner’s assertions.
An official statement from ECP stated that “the commissioner of any division is never appointed as a DRO, RO, or presiding officer, nor do they ever take a direct role in the outcome of elections.”
In view of the commissioner’s accusations, the high-level committee established by the election monitor will question the pertinent ROs and DROs.
A senior ECP member will chair the panel, which also consists of the secretary, special secretary, and additional director general (legal).
This report will be considered when deciding whether to file a contempt charge against the federal servant.
Ordered an investigation
Amir Mir, Punjab’s acting minister of information, stated separately that the former commissioner was unable to provide any evidence to support his accusations.
“As elections are overseen by an election watchdog, the commissioner has no involvement in their conduct.”
Mr. Mir stated that the chief minister had directed an investigation into the claims, which will make all relevant information available to the public.
That committee, however, had not been created until late at night.
Mr. Mir stated that on February 12, just one month before to his retirement, Mr. Chattha’s elevation to Grade-21 was denied.
Mr. Chattha, according to him, desired the promotion in order to “get perks and privileges specified for BPS-21.”
Transfers
On Saturday night, Mr. Chattha was moved, and Saif Anwar Jappa, the DG of the Rawalpindi Development Authority, was handed the new responsibility.
Mr. Jappa and the district resolution officers of Chakwal, Jhelum, Attock, Talagang, and Rawalpindi declared shortly after he assumed office as commissioner that there was no compulsion to tamper with the election results.
In addition, the DROs called for an investigation into the claims made by the former commissioner.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
