Pakistan
Senior Pakistani official quits position, claims February 8 national polls were 'manipulated'
A senior Pakistani bureaucrat has alleged that the results of the February 8 general elections were “manipulated” under his watch.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha has even resigned from his position.
Speaking to reporters outside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chatha told Dawn News, “I am taking responsibilty for all this wrongdoing.”
He even alleged that the chief election commissioner and a top judge of the Supreme Court were “involved in this”.
“We made independent candidates — who had leads of 70,000-80,000 votes — lose by putting on fake stamps,” he said.
In a handwritten letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, he said he was resigning from his “post and service” as he was “deeply involved in serious crime like mega election rigging 2024”.
The letter was addressed to Punjab Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, interim provincial chief minister Mohsin Naqvi and the provincial chief secretary.
Poll body responds
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), however, rejected his claims.
In a press release, the electoral watchdog said none of its officials ever issued any instructions to Chatha for a “change in the election results”, reported Dawn News.
“Neither is the commissioner of any division ever appointed as a district returning officer, returning office or a presiding officer nor do they ever play a direct role in the conduct of elections,” it asserted.
“However, the election commission will conduct an inquiry into the matter as soon as possible.”
The Punjab government's spokesperson also denied rigging claims as made by the official.
Speaking to Geo News, caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir said that this is neither a revelation nor a confession of the crime, this is a claim and an allegation to harm the credibility of the elections.
He said that he strongly rejects the allegations made by Chatha.
Pakistan polls
Pakistan voted to elect a new government on February 8.
However, the country plunged into a political crisis with none of the political outfits winning the majority needed to form the government.
Political parties are now trying to forge an alliance and secure 169 seats needed to secure a majority in the 336-member lower house of parliament.
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