RAWALPINDI:
A day after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha confessed to his role in rigging the recent Pakistan elections, the city’s regional police officer, Syed Khurram Ali, took a 15-day leave on Sunday
Ali said he and his family were leaving for a 15-day trip to the United Kingdom.
On Saturday, the Punjab Information Department invited Commissioner Rawalpindi, along with RPO Rawalpindi, to a press conference regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament. Ali’s office then informed that the senior officer had applied for leave before the elections, but was not granted and approval for leave post-elections was given.
The RPO attended the office on Friday and later the same evening travelled to Lahore. The additional charge of his responsibilities has been taken over by CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani.
However, authorities said it is not known whether Ali has left for the UK or still present in Lahore. They added that he has 15-day leave and should rejoin his duty from March 2.
Express attempted to contact RPO Rawalpindi Ali but there was no answer.
A day earlier, Rawalpindi Commissioner Chatha dropped a bombshell, confessing to his role in rigging the recent elections, a week after polls marred by allegations of manipulation returned no clear winner.
Taking responsibility for what he termed a “heinous crime,” Chatha implicated not only himself but also pointed fingers at the head of the election commission and the country’s top judge – thrusting them into the spotlight.
The ‘confessions’ came as the ECP has already been in the crosshairs of several rigging allegations in the aftermath of a tumultuous week and thick clouds of manipulation continue to linger over results, throwing further questions over the legitimacy of the ballots.
Chatha, in a stunning admission, announced his intention to surrender to the authorities, acknowledging his role in tampering with the electoral outcome by turning the tables and flipping losers into winners.
Read ECP refutes Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations, initiates inquiry
“We converted the losers into winners, reversing margins of 70,000 votes in 13 national assembly seats,” he told reporters.
“For committing such a heinous crime, I will hand myself over to the police,” he said, also implicating Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
In a handwritten letter, he expressed his decision to resign from his “post and service,” citing his “deep involvement in serious crimes like mega election rigging 2024”.
The letter was directed to Punjab Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, interim provincial chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the provincial chief secretary.
When questioned about potential “irregularities” in the electoral process and whether local returning officers had caused delays in result transmission, Chatha stated that “‘irregularities’ is a minor word for it.”
“I should face punishment for the injustice I have committed, and others involved in this injustice should also be held accountable,” he added.
During a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chatha disclosed that there was significant “pressure” on him, to the extent that he contemplated suicide in the morning but ultimately decided to bring the matter before the public.
“It is my appeal to the entire bureaucracy not to engage in any wrongful actions for these political figures,” he concluded.
