[🇵🇰] Rawalpindi commissioner says poll results ‘manipulated’ under his watch; ECP rejects claims
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Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha has said that “independent candidates who were winning” the election were made to lose.
When asked by reporters in Rawalpindi 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 to lose the independent candidates who were winning [the election] with a lead of 70,000-80,000 votes by putting on fake stamps,” he added.
“There is no pressure on me,” the commissioner said, adding that he “could not become a part of breaking this country”.
Follow more updates in our live elections blog at the link in bio.
#DawnToday #Elections2024 #Pakistan
Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha has said that “independent candidates who were winning” the election were made to lose.
When asked by reporters in Rawalpindi 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 to lose the independent candidates who were winning [the election] with a lead of 70,000-80,000 votes by putting on fake stamps,” he added.
“There is no pressure on me,” the commissioner said, adding that he “could not become a part of breaking this country”.
Follow more updates in our live elections blog at the link in bio.
#DawnToday #Elections2024 #Pakistan
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Rawalpindi commissioner surrenders to police after poll rigging bombshell
Police spokesman says Chattha not arrested but in “custody” after allegations; Saif Anwar Jappa given additional charge of Pindi commissioner.
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The commissioner, who has now been transferred to the Services and General Administration Department (SGAD) in Lahore, was scheduled to hold a press conference regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) arrangements at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. But instead of the presser, he had an informal chat with reporters in which he made the startling claims.
According to Mr Chattha, he was disclosing the information about alleged irregularities in the election on the call of his conscience. He also accused CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of being a part of the “rigging plan”.
The ex-commissioner said that he had decided to resign and took responsibility for supervising the theft of public mandate by changing the results of 13 National Assembly constituencies in six districts of Rawalpindi Division.
Mr Chattha claimed the candidates who were “losing” the elections “were made to win” and that the process to justify the manipulated results was still going in “an organised manner at some offices”.
“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 alleged. He claimed the candidates ahead with up to 70,000 votes were declared runner-up as a result of alleged rigging.
“We made independent candidates…lose by putting on fake stamps,” he added.
“I should be punished for the injustice…should be hanged to death at Kutchery Chowk and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished,” he said.
He said he was unable to sleep at night after “stabbing the country in its back”.
According to the officer, he was on the brink of suicide but resisted because he needed to share this information with the public and then resign from his post.
Mr Chattha also advised the bureaucracy to stop accepting “illegal orders”.
According to Mr Chattha, he was disclosing the information about alleged irregularities in the election on the call of his conscience. He also accused CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of being a part of the “rigging plan”.
The ex-commissioner said that he had decided to resign and took responsibility for supervising the theft of public mandate by changing the results of 13 National Assembly constituencies in six districts of Rawalpindi Division.
Mr Chattha claimed the candidates who were “losing” the elections “were made to win” and that the process to justify the manipulated results was still going in “an organised manner at some offices”.
“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 alleged. He claimed the candidates ahead with up to 70,000 votes were declared runner-up as a result of alleged rigging.
“We made independent candidates…lose by putting on fake stamps,” he added.
“I should be punished for the injustice…should be hanged to death at Kutchery Chowk and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished,” he said.
He said he was unable to sleep at night after “stabbing the country in its back”.
According to the officer, he was on the brink of suicide but resisted because he needed to share this information with the public and then resign from his post.
Mr Chattha also advised the bureaucracy to stop accepting “illegal orders”.
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Office sealed
After the press conference, the outgoing commissioner surrendered himself to the police, who arrested him and sealed his office.
A local official said the office was sealed since the administration wanted to prevent record tampering.
However, a police spokesman said the commissioner was not arrested as there were no cases against him, but he was in the “custody” after the allegations.
Mr Chattha has been shifted to some unknown place.
A senior district administration official said security of the polling staff, returning and district returning officers had been increased and election material and data has been secured.
He said though election results were already provided to the ECP, the official record with ROs has also been protected.
