Rigging ‘confessions’ whip up political storm

PTI calls for resignations of CEC, CJP; PML-N dismisses allegations as 'built on lies'

LAHORE/RAWALPINDI:

As the political arena was set ablaze after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha dropped the bombshell, the PTI, seizing the moment, on Saturday stoked its narrative on poll rigging, while the PML-N launched blistering attacks at the senior bureaucrat for casting "groundless accusations."

Riding on the shockwaves of the commissioner's shocking "confessional statements", the PTI integrated the claims into its ongoing campaign for redressal of grievances from the February 8 elections, terming them vindication as party founder Imran Khan’s narrative.

Facing the heat, the PML-N, on the other, demanded the commissioner to substantiate his claims with proof.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, in a press conference with party leaders Attaullah Tarar and Uzma Bukhari in Model Town Lahore, dismissed Chatha's statement as built on lies.

The former information minister said that Rawalpindi commissioner should be put on the exit control list immediately besides taking all his phone records into custody.

She demanded a complete investigation into the allegations, saying it should be probed that with whom Rawalpindi Commissioner was in contact for the last eight days, his meetings, phone calls, verification of accounts and entire activities should be investigated in this regard.

She said, “One cannot get off scot-free after levelling baseless allegations without any evidence.”

She noted it was ironic that rigging took place in all constituencies except for one. Interestingly, the lone exception was the constituency won by the PTI, where he claimed no rigging took place, she added.

The PML-N leader said that certain elements were in the habit of levelling baseless allegations and creating confusion. She said, “Commissioner Rawalpindi is discrediting elections and levelling baseless allegations without any proof.”

“If rigging was being conducted in front of Rawalpindi Commissioner, then why he didn’t hand over the culprits to the police,” she questioned.

She said that the country was going through a critical phase and it could not afford any irresponsible behaviour. She further pointed out that any grievances related to the results of elections should be taken to the appropriate forum.

Maryam Aurangzeb pointed out that the commissioner's assertion of candidates winning with a lead of 50,000 was inaccurate as no candidate had secured such a margin.

‘Foreign conspiracy’

Meanwhile, talking to journalists in Rawalpindi, PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi said that the allegations made by the Rawalpindi Commissioner could potentially be part of “an external conspiracy”.

Accusing him of having close ties with foreigners, Abbasi questioned how the Chattha could be aware of the voting details. He said that the commissioner’s retirement is scheduled for next month.

The PML-N further challenged the commissioner to provide evidence supporting these allegations, saying that if the accusations are proven true, he will be the first to resign from his seat.

The PML-N leader said that the commissioner's statements were entirely fabricated, asserting that there was no meddling in the electoral process, and the commissioner lacked the authority to oversee the polls.

"I approached him yesterday regarding a civil matter, and he consistently discussed the major projects in Rawalpindi without displaying any signs of pressure on his face," Abbasi alleged.

Hanif asserted that the commissioner personally extended congratulations to all candidates.

"I never perceived any signs of mental illness in him; he should undergo an examination, and the truth will be revealed," Abbasi claimed.

Mocking the commissioner's "conscientious remarks," he quipped it appeared that his conscience was entirely dormant until 6:30 Friday. Abbasi further speculated that the commissioner might have made these allegations due to foreign media influence and overseas factors.

"This is clearly part of a conspiracy. I am 100 per cent confident that the commissioner is aligned with the forces in Balochistan; otherwise, he would never have implicated the chief justice," he added.

PTI calls for resignations

Emboldened by the explosive allegations, the PTI has demanded the immediate resignation of the chief election commissioner and the chief justice of Pakistan.

Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, deemed Chattha's confession as "incriminating."

In a social media post on 'X', Imran asserted, "His statement serves as a stark revelation of the countrywide systematic manipulation of election results where PTI’s significant leads were deceitfully tampered into losses, depriving the people of their rightful mandate, not only in the National Assembly but also in Provincial Assemblies."

He further added, "PTI also calls for a fair investigation and meaningful trial of all those involved in this brazen mandate theft."

Senior PTI official Ali Muhammad Khan, addressing reporters in Islamabad, emphasised that Chattha's statement substantiated their party's claims of being deceived. He declared, "We must be returned our mandate."

Similarly, reacting to Liaquat Chattha's “confessional statement” before the media regarding his purported role in manipulating the election results, the PTI spokesperson argued that the CEC had lost both legal and moral grounds to remain in office.

He called for an instant resignation, urging the prompt return of the allegedly stolen seats to PTI.

The spokesperson stated that the commissioner’s admission of extensive rigging in the elections aligned with PTI's longstanding stance on how the public mandate was allegedly stolen under the cover of darkness.

“The confessions regarding the conversion of clear-cut victories by PTI-backed independent candidates into defeats through fraudulent means provides tangible evidence of the mega polls theft.”

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the PTI spokesperson insisted that in light of the allegations, the electoral watchdog should promptly return PTI's 86 contested seats. These seats, won by PTI-backed independent candidates with great margins according to Form 45, were allegedly subjected to manipulation.

Calling for accountability, the spokesperson demanded the immediate resignations of all officers involved in the alleged plan to undermine the public mandate, including the CEC and the Chief Justice, following Liaquat Chattha's revelations.

The PTI spokesperson underscored the need for swift punishment for all those implicated in the large-scale rigging. Additionally, he urged an end to the ongoing efforts to impose a power-sharing formula against the public's will, warning against political and economic instability.

Meanwhile, PPP's Faisal Karim Kundi called for an urgent inquiry into the allegations he made.

Expressing concern about the challenging circumstances the country is currently facing, Kundi remarked, "At a time when the new government is on the verge of taking over, the accusations put forth by a high-ranking government official are truly astonishing."

Highlighting that the PPP also harbours reservations regarding the elections, Kundi emphasised the need to unveil the truth for the nation. He concluded by urging a transparent examination of the claims.