Former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha, in a statement recorded before an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) committee, admitted to orchestrating a ‘poll rigging drama.’ Chatha expressed regret for his misleading allegations of election rigging, revealing that he made the claims under political pressure from a certain party, later identified as the PTI. The former commissioner also issued a public apology for his actions.
Chatha Admits to Poll-Rigging Drama
In his statement before the ECP committee, Chatha confessed to staging a news conference filled with drama and emotional rhetoric, orchestrated under the guidance of the political party. He disclosed a prior relationship with a senior official of the party and detailed how he was promised a higher position in return for proving that the general elections were rigged.
Chatha outlined the plan, revealing that the news conference’s emotional display was scheduled to coincide with a protest by the political party on February 17. The deliberate inclusion of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa’s name aimed to incite public hatred towards him. Chatha emphasized that neither the ECP nor any Returning Officers were involved in manipulating election results.
Legal Consequences Of Conspiracy Charges
In a related development, the interim Punjab government has decided to prosecute Chatha over conspiracy charges against the state. The additional IG legal has recommended action under Section 153 of the Pakistan Penal Code for inciting hatred, Section 505 for misusing his office, Section 178 of the Elections Act for interference in the voting process, and Section 186 for taking action against government employees.
Chatha’s admission has peeled the deception surrounding the election rigging claims, exposing the web of political maneuvering. As legal consequences loom, the aftermath of this discourse may have far-reaching implications for both Chatha and the political party involved, highlighting the ethical conduct of political figures and the complexities of the electoral process.
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