Rigging Allegations
ISLAMABAD: In a startling turn of events, former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha has retracted his allegations of electoral rigging, expressing deep remorse and claiming coordination with a prominent leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Chatha initially resigned last Saturday, citing a “guilty conscience” for his alleged involvement in widespread electoral manipulation in Rawalpindi.
Taking full responsibility for his actions, Chatha issued a statement to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), expressing shame and embarrassment for his earlier claims.
He revealed that the PTI leader had promised him “lucrative positions in the future” in exchange for supporting the PTI’s narrative of election rigging and maligning state institutions.
Chatha, a civil servant for 32 years, detailed his relationship with the PTI leader, emphasizing a close friendship based on trust. The offer to play a role in supporting the PTI’s narrative and tarnishing state institutions was made during a meeting in Lahore on February 11.
The PTI leader assured Chatha that the plan had been formulated with the approval of senior PTI leadership. The proposed press conference, where Chatha initially made his allegations, aimed to create sensations and drama to augment false narratives propagated by the PTI.
Chatha admitted to making sweeping and emotional statements during the press conference to serve the purpose of malicious narrative building.
He mentioned that he was specifically asked to name Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja as part of the plan.
Chatha concluded his statement by expressing deep shame and embarrassment for making false, concocted, anti-state, and malicious statements in the press conference, acknowledging the embarrassment caused to himself and the entire bureaucratic fraternity.
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