Chatha admits staging poll rigging ‘drama’

Retracts earlier allegations; regrets ‘misleading’ nation at behest of a political party

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

In a statement recorded before an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) committee, former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha on Thursday expressed his regret over his earlier ‘misleading’ allegation that the recent elections were rigged, adding that he had made the claim at the behest of a political party, without explicitly naming the PTI.

The former Rawalpindi commissioner, who had resigned from his post last week while making serious allegations of election rigging, also issued a public apology.

ECP sources said Chatha appeared before the ECP investigation committee and recorded his statement in response to a notice sent to him by the body a day earlier.

Sources revealed that all the district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) of Rawalpindi Division had categorically rejected the accusations of rigging in the elections levelled by the former commissioner. The inquiry committee collected written statements from all six DROs of Rawalpindi Division.

During his fiery news conference last week, Chatha had raised serious concerns about election rigging. However, in his statement before the ECP committee, he attributed his actions to political pressure from the PTI leadership, without naming the party.

He admitted to orchestrating a news conference filled with drama and emotional rhetoric, including phrases related to suicide and hanging, under the guidance of the political party.

Chatha disclosed that at the time of the news conference, he was retiring on March 9 and concerned about his future as well as benefits, adding that after the 2018 elections, he had held many important positions in the Punjab government.

He revealed that during term as the Punjab secretary, he developed a close relationship with a senior official of a certain political party for future benefits.

This party official absconded because of his involvement in last year’s May 9 violence. However, Chatha said he kept in touch with the party official and secretly helped him.

The former commissioner said on February 11, he secretly went to Lahore and met the party official, who asked him to work on a plan to prove that this year’s general elections were rigged and in return promised him a higher position in the future.

At first, Chatha suggested that he should resign alleging that the elections were rigged.

However, in view of the apprehension that it would not have much effect, an emotional and drama-filled news conference was decided.

According to the political leader, the whole plan was organised under the full support and guidance of the top leadership of his party.

Chatha disclosed that the day of the news conference was scheduled on February 17 as per a deliberate plan, linking it with a protest staged by the political party.

He added that the name of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa was deliberately included in the plan and the aim was to incite public hatred towards him.

The ex-Rawalpindi commissioner in his statement maintained that nobody, including the ECP, had instructed him to manipulate the election results.

More importantly, he continued that no RO was involved in any rigging process, refuting his earlier allegations.
“I am very ashamed of what I have done and seek forgiveness from the entire nation, especially all government employees because I have seriously damaged their reputation with false allegations,” he added.

In a related development, the interim Punjab government has decided to prosecute the former Rawalpindi commissioner over charges of conspiracy against the state, punishable by one to 10 years in prison.

According to the details, the additional IG legal has written a letter to the Punjab Home Department for taking strict action against Chatha under extraordinary provisions.

Sources said the additional IG legal has recommended taking action against Chatha under Section 153 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for inciting hatred and dividing the society.

In addition, the official has also recommended framing charges against the former commissioner under Section 505 of the PPC for misusing his office, Section 178 of the Elections Act for interference in the voting process, and Section 186 of the PPC for taking action against government employees.

The sources said the interim provincial government had decided to prosecute Chatha under all these charges.