Rawalpindi commissioner says poll results ‘manipulated’ under his watch

 

Feb 2, 2024: Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha claimed that the results of the February 8 general elections were manipulated under his watch. He also resigned from his position. Speaking to reporters outside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chatha said, " I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing". He alleged that the chief election commissioner and CJP were also involved. " We made independent candidates, who had leads of 70,000 - 80,000 votes lose by putting on fake stamps". He added. In his resignation letter to Punjab Governor Ghulam Ali, caretaker CM, Mohsin Naqvi, and the provincial chief secretary he said he was resigning from his post and service as he was deeply involved in serious crimes like mega election rigging in 2024". The commissioner said to the reporters that irregularities in the electoral process and if the local returning officers had delayed the transmission of results, Chatha said that irregularities is a minor word for it. The commissioner further said that "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 said.  Chatha said there was pressure on him to the extent that he contemplated suicide in the morning 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 political people". Commissioner Chata is retiring on March 13. 

The Commissioner of a Division does not have an official role in the conduct of general elections but can still enjoy an unofficial influence on the conduct of the elections. The deputy commissioners of all the districts were appointed as the district returning officers. Additional deputy commissioner general, additional district deputy commissioner revenue, additional deputy commissioner headquarters, district council chief officer, and the district election commissioners were the returning officers (ROs) of 13 National Assembly constituencies across the Rawalpindi division, and all assistant commissioners were the assistant returning officers. As the administrative head of the Division, the Commissioner can ave an unofficial influence on the conduct of the elections because DCs are subordinate to him on the administrative side.