Pakistan's Top Official Jailed for Confirming Election Rigging Sends Shockwaves

Speaking to reporters outside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Chatha said: “I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing.”

He added that the Chief Election Commissioner, Sikander Sultan Raja, and Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Qazi Faez Isa, were also “Involved in this. We made independent candidates — who had leads of 70,000-80,000 votes — lose by putting on fake stamps,” he added.

Chatha further announced that that he was stepping down from his position out of guilt for what he did. In an explosive comment he added that he, Raja and Isa should be sentenced to death for stealing the votes of the masses and deepening political chaos.

The commissioner said he "could not become a part of breaking this country. It is my request to the entire bureaucracy to not do anything wrong for all these political people."

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a nationwide protest against alleged ballot-rigging

Impact of Chatha's Statements on Pakistan's Political Situation

Sputnik India spoke to political analysts regarding the new development.

According to a senior political observer Dr. Shahid Rashid, "This will cause more and more protests across the country, courts have to play their role, but unfortunately they are all compromised."

Washington based political analyst Dr. Moeed Pirzada said the press conference was one of the most “dramatic and disturbing things” he had seen in recent history of the country.

"In the next several hours we will see this new development as Chatha has stepped down and also today top Pakistan's constitution expert Salman Akram Raja has been arrested. During his arrest he was shouting that they are illegally taking him away, but he stands with the people. He won the elections in Lahore and he is one of the most distinguished politicians," Pirzada said.

According to the political expert, these two events raised many questions — and there is something bigger at play.

"It is becoming more and more clear that the military establishment is pressurizing people like the Rawalpindi commissioner to take certain actions. Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha did not say who exactly told him to take part in the election rigging, but he kept saying that 'we all know who is behind this'," Pirzada explained in his vlog.

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a nationwide protest against alleged ballot-rigging.

High-Ranking Official in Electoral Misconduct

Sputnik India also reached out to a senior military chief based in Islamabad.

"As everyone suspected, vote rigging was rife in Pakistan but establishing this fact was impossible, until now," he said on condition of anonymity.

"The Commissioner Liaquat Chatha very bravely came forward and confessed his wrongdoings on live television with millions of Pakistanis watching him. What happens now and what the army is planning is uncertain, but there will be a definitive reaction from the public," the chief said.

Scottish-based political observer Parvez Salik agreed that the remarks by the commissioner have opened a new chapter in Pakistan's political uncertainty.

"Corruption is endemic at present and PML-N and PPP supporters will defend their own no matter what. The main problems of inflation, national debt and subjugation will not disappear overnight, whoever is elected. And now Chatta’s admission has sent shockwaves through the country, as it implicates a high-ranking official in electoral misconduct," Salik explained.

According to recent reports, Liaqat Ali Chatta was apprehended by Rawalpindi police following his admission of involvement in election rigging. The arrest by Rawalpindi’s Chief Police Officer Khalid Hamdani came swiftly after Chatta’s public confession.

Responding to Chatha’s claims, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it strongly rejected the allegations against the ECP and the chief election commissioner.

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