Committee
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established a “high-level” committee to investigate election rigging allegations raised by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha.
This committee, comprising senior ECP officials such as the secretary, special secretary, and additional director general of law, was formed in response to Chatha’s damning revelations during a special meeting attended by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Punjab ECP member Babar Hasan Bharwana online.
A senior member of the commission will preside over the committee, which is tasked with recording statements from returning officers and district returning officers and presenting a report within three days. The ECP will then decide on potential legal actions, including contempt of ECP, against the Pindi commissioner based on the findings.
Chatha, in a press conference, resigned from his position and admitted pressuring returning officers to alter results for at least 13 MNA candidates in Rawalpindi Division. He dramatically claimed deserving capital punishment and advocated being hanged at Rawalpindi’s Ketcheri Chowk. Additionally, he alleged that losing candidates were declared winners with a lead of 50,000 votes each.
Following his revelations, Rawalpindi police detained Chatha. However, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and the ECP rejected the accusations, stating that no ECP officials instructed the Rawalpindi commissioner to change election results.
In an informal conversation with reporters, Chief Justice Isa dismissed the allegations as baseless, lacking proof and evidence. Despite Chatha placing blame on various individuals, including the chief election commissioner and the chief justice, both have vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged wrongdoing.
The unfolding situation underscores the complexity and seriousness of the allegations, requiring a thorough and timely investigation by the newly-formed committee.
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