ROs give testimonies before ECP panel

A high level committee formed to investigate the explosive allegations of Rawalpindi division’s former commissioner Liauat Ali Chatha has recorded testimonies of all the returning officers (ROs) for the 13 National Assembly and 26 Punjab Assembly constituencies in the division.

The ROs on Tuesday also submitted their written statements.

According to sources in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the ROs have rejected Chatha’s claims that elections in Rawalpindi were massively rigged.

The officials have stated that they did not face any pressure to change election results and that elections on February 8 took place in a transparent and peaceful manner.

The sources told The Express Tribune that the committee has now started compiling its report which it will soon submit to the ECP. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) also submitted a transcript of Chatha's press conference to the probe panel.

Chatha sent shockwaves through the country on Saturday by claiming that massive rigging took place in all constituencies of Rawalpindi under his watch in the February 8 elections.

Taking responsibility for what he termed a “heinous crime”, Chatha accused the chief election commissioner and the chief justice of Pakistan of complicity.

In a stunning admission, Chatha also announced his intention to surrender to the authorities, acknowledging his role in tampering with the electoral outcome by flipping losers into winners.

A day after the incident, the ECP announced the formation of the high-level committee to probe the allegations. On Monday, the six district returning officers (DROs) of Rawalpindi division had submitted their written statements to the committee.