Rawalpindi commissioner resigns for manipulating election results
In an earth-shattering development, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha has resigned from his post after confessing “rigging” in recently-held general elections and manipulating the poll results, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Chattha said he personally supervised rigging of votes in Rawalpindi. "We converted the losers into winners, reversing margins of 70,000 votes in 13 National Assembly seats," he said.
Making a string of startling disclosures regarding electoral misconduct while talking to media men at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Chattha expressed remorse for his actions, saying he felt ashamed and a desire for atonement. “I tried to reverse it but could not succeed. I apologise to those who are affected by this rigging,” he added.
“I and election commissioner should be penalized over rigging,” Chattha said and added “I surrender to police over rigging.”
Chattha said there was intense pressure on him to the extent that he contemplated suicide today 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 added.
Chattha said: “Stabbing the country in its back does not let” him sleep. “I should be punished for the injustice I have done and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished,” he maintained.
The commissioner said: “PTI-supported independent candidates who were winning the elections were made to lose.”
Responding to a question that if there were “irregularities” in the electoral process and if the local returning officers had delayed the transmission of results, Chattha said that irregularities was a small term for it. “We made the winning independent candidates to lose. They were winning with a lead of 70,000-80,000 votes but we made them to lose by putting on fake stamps,” he confessed to reporters.
“There is no pressure on me now,” the commissioner said, adding he “could not become a part of breaking this country anymore.”
Chattha claimed that the candidates who were “losing” the elections “were made to win” and has “taken responsibility for all the wrongdoing” in the alleged poll-rigging. “I am taking the responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this,” he told journalists.
Chief Commissioner Rawalpindi accepts rigging allegations & resigns, saying he chose to tell public that 70K+ leads are wrongfully converted into losses. This confirms our stance that NA and PP seats have been rigged. #MandateThieves
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 17, 2024
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Chattah went on to declare that he should face the death penalty for his alleged crimes and recounted a scene where presiding officers were brought to tears before him.
Shockingly, Chattha claimed to have attempted suicide after morning Fajar prayers as a consequence of his actions.
The commissioner spoke of his fears of 1971-like tragic events, stating that he wanted to relieve himself of the burden on his conscience. He expressed a desire for justice to prevail, insisting that others implicated in the misconduct should also face consequences.
Chattha also claimed that 13 members of the National Assembly (MNAs) were defeated in his division despite initially leading by a heavy margin. He alleged that fake seals were used to cheat voters and implicated Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in the wrongdoing.
Reporter: Irshad Qureshi