Rawalpindi Commissioner Confirms Vote Rigging During Pakistan Elections
© AP Photo / Muhammad SajjadMembers of polling staff count the votes after the polls closed for parliamentary elections, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.
© AP Photo / Muhammad Sajjad
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Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta has resigned, admitting to influencing returning officers under his jurisdiction to alter at least 13 election outcomes in his district.
Chatta admitted to the police his involvement in election rigging and expressed his belief that he deserved capital punishment.
Addressing journalists at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, he revealed that there was "pressure" on him to the point where he considered killing himself. However, he ultimately decided to share his concerns with the public.
"We convert the losers into winners with 50,000 votes margin. I did injustice to the people of Rawalpindi Division,” he claimed before surrendering himself to the police.
کمشنر راولپنڈی لیاقت علی چھٹہ کا مستعفی ہونے کا فیصلہ
— Muhammad Umair (@MohUmair87) February 17, 2024
میں راولپنڈی ڈویژن میں انتخابی دھاندلی کی ذمہ داری قبول کرتا ہوں۔انتخابی دھاندلی پر اپنے آپ کو پولیس کے حوالے کرتا ہوں۔بیورو کریسی سیاسی دباؤ میں ہے میں نے پہلے خود کشی کا فیصلہ بھی کیا۔ کمشنر راولپنڈی pic.twitter.com/jl7gNwivuO
It was "plenty evident" who was behind the rigging, Chantha said.
"Even today our people are sitting and putting fake stamps," said Chatha, adding that he wanted to apologize to all the returning officers, who were doing the "wrong thing" under his command.