New Delhi, February 17, 2024: Liaqat Ali Chatha, the Commissioner of Rawalpindi Division in Pakistan, resigned on Saturday, citing a “guilty conscience” for his involvement in large-scale electoral rigging in the garrison city. This development has further heightened political tensions in Pakistan and every newspaper has carried it as a front-page news.
Speaking at a press conference Chatha announced his decision to step down from his position, acknowledging that he had done injustice to the people of his city.
The Rawalpindi Division comprises 13 National Assembly seats, with 11 won by candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the remaining two secured by an independent candidate and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Following Chatha’s revelations, initial reports suggested that he had been arrested by the police. However, a police spokesperson later refuted these claims, stating that the top official had not been taken into custody.
In a rare admission of wrongdoing, Chatha took responsibility for the alleged rigging that occurred in the Division, confessing to manipulating election results in favour of certain candidates. He expressed regret for his actions and apologized to the returning officers involved in the electoral process, noting that his subordinates were distressed by the directives they received.
Chatha claimed that electoral malpractices, including the affixing of fake stamps on ballot papers, were still ongoing. He expressed remorse for the harm caused to the country and suggested facing consequences for his actions.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has refuted his claims, stating that no official of the commission instructed him to manipulate election results. The ECP emphasized that commissioners do not hold direct roles in the conduct of elections but announced plans to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
In response to the controversy, Pakistan’s Punjab caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has ordered an impartial investigation into the allegations. A high-level committee will be formed to inquire into the matter, with assurances of transparency in revealing the facts.
The allegations of electoral rigging have sparked demands for an investigation from various political parties. Independent candidates, primarily supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, secured a significant number of seats in the February 8 election. However, the PML-N and PPP have formed a post-poll alliance, potentially reshaping the political landscape in Pakistan.