Resignations
ISLAMABAD: Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha’s public admission about his involvement in election rigging has sparked a nationwide debate on the transparency of elections in Pakistan. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its allies are demanding the resignations of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in light of the revelations.
While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has called for an inquiry into the allegations, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has raised concerns about Commissioner Chattha’s mental state. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah questioned Chattha’s sanity, suggesting he appeared to be a “psycho” for claiming he attempted suicide.
The PTI spokesperson affirmed Commissioner Chattha’s revelations supported the party’s stance on the alleged theft of the public mandate during the elections. The commissioner’s admission supposedly exposed the individuals involved in election rigging, where the victory of independent candidates with significant leads was allegedly converted into defeat through fake stamps.
The PTI demanded the swift return of its 86 seats and urged punishment for those involved in the alleged electoral fraud, emphasizing the need to adhere to the constitution and the law.
During a parliamentary committee meeting, PTI leaders discussed the impact of Commissioner Chattha’s revelations, highlighting the party’s deprivation of its symbol and imprisonment of leaders during the elections. The leaders argued that despite these challenges, the public still voted for PTI.
In response to the revelations, PML-N called for an in-depth inquiry into all communication channels used by Commissioner Chattha and urged placing his name on the exit control list (ECL). PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasized that the commissioner lacked constitutional responsibility or authority in the election process and criticized his failure to present evidence at the election commission hearings.
The evolving situation underscores the complexity of electoral transparency issues in Pakistan, prompting calls for thorough investigations and potential resignations at top levels.
