Rawalpindi RPO goes on leave amid rigging claims

A day after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha alleged that rigging occurred during the recent general elections under his watch, the city's regional police officer, Syed Khurram Ali, departed for a trip to the UK with his family on Sunday, intending to return on March 2. This move sparked rumors on social media speculating that he had fled following the "disclosures."

On Saturday, the Punjab Information Department invited both the Rawalpindi commissioner and RPO for a news conference related to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament.

However, the RPO's office clarified that the senior official had applied for leave before the elections, which was not approved at that time but was later granted after the polls. The RPO was present at his office on Friday before traveling to Lahore in the evening.

The additional responsibilities have been entrusted to Rawalpindi CPO Khalid Hamdani in the RPO's absence. Authorities stated that it was unclear whether Ali had indeed left for the UK or remained in Lahore. They confirmed that he had taken a 14-day leave and was expected to resume duty on March 2.

The Express Tribune attempted to contact the Rawalpindi RPO but there was no answer.

A handout issued by the Punjab police spokesperson read that the Rawalpindi RPO had applied for a 14-day leave for his trip abroad on January 17 this year before the elections.

It added that a formal summary in this connection was sent to the Punjab CM’s Office on January 30.
The handout continued that the interim Punjab government had approved the 14-day leave of the Rawalpindi RPO based on the recommendations of the summary.

Read ECP refutes Rawalpindi commissioner's allegations, initiates inquiry

It issued a notification that allowed him to leave the country from February 18 to March 2.

The Rawalpindi RPO’s spokesperson said the official was on a pre-approved leave for a trip abroad from February 18 to March 2.

The spokesperson added that the RPO had applied for a leave to go abroad to the UK a month before and it was approved two weeks ago.

He refuted the “baseless” speculations on social media that the RPO’s leave was linked to the allegations made by the Rawalpindi commissioner.

Taking on social media platform X, interim Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi also confirmed that the Rawalpindi RPO leave was approved on January 30 this year and notified on January 31.

“Let's foster positivity and refrain from unnecessary controversies. [The] RPO Rawalpindi is a dedicated career officer deserving our respect,” he wrote.

A day earlier, Rawalpindi Commissioner Chatha dropped a bombshell, confessing to his role in “rigging” the recent elections, a week after polls marred by allegations of manipulation returned no clear winner.

Taking responsibility for what he termed a "heinous crime," Chatha implicated not only himself but also pointed fingers at the head of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the country’s top judge -- thrusting them into the spotlight.

The ‘confessions’ came as the ECP has already been in the crosshairs of several rigging allegations in the aftermath of a tumultuous week and thick clouds of manipulation continue to linger over results, throwing further questions over the legitimacy of the ballots.

Chatha, in a stunning admission, announced his intention to surrender to the authorities, acknowledging his role in “tampering” with the electoral outcome by turning the tables and “flipping losers into winners”.