Ex-Bureaucrats U-Turn: Election Rigging Claims Withdrawn in Pakistan

A former senior bureaucrat in Pakistan has retracted his allegations of election rigging in the city of Rawalpindi, admitting that he made the claims at the behest of former Prime Minister Imran Khans party in exchange for a lucrative position.

In a surprising turn of events, a former senior bureaucrat in Pakistan has withdrawn his allegations of election rigging in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Liaquat Ali Chattha, the former Commissioner of Rawalpindi, who had initially claimed that 13 candidates were forcefully declared winners, has now retracted his statements and admitted that he made the accusations at the behest of former prime minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Confession and Surrender

Chattha, in a statement to Geo News, took full responsibility for his actions and surrendered himself to the authorities for legal action. He had previously resigned from his office on Saturday, accepting responsibility for manipulating poll results and implicating Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner CEC Sikander Sultan Raja in the rigging scheme.

PTI's Involvement Revealed

In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Chattha revealed that his actions were coordinated with the PTI, which had promised him a "lucrative position" in exchange for supporting their narrative of election rigging and maligning state institutions. Chattha, a civil servant with 32 years of experience, explained that he had met with a prominent PTI leader in Lahore on February 11, where the offer was made.

Personal Connection and Retirement Pressure

Chattha disclosed that he had developed a cordial friendship with the PTI leader during the party's time in power. He stated that the leader had assured him that the plan had been approved by the senior leadership of the party, considering his impending retirement and the challenges that come with leaving a life of perks and privileges.

Press Conference and False Narratives

The plan involved holding a press conference to create sensationalism and drama, amplifying the PTI's false narratives. Chattha admitted that the name of Chief Justice Isa was specifically mentioned to erode public trust in him, despite his lack of involvement in the election process. Similarly, Chief Election Commissioner Raja was named to raise doubts about the entire election process across Pakistan.

Regret and Embarrassment

Expressing deep shame and embarrassment, Chattha acknowledged that his statements were entirely false, concocted, anti-state, and malicious. He recognized the damage caused to his reputation and the bureaucratic fraternity as a whole.

Political Reactions

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), poised to form a coalition government, swiftly reacted to the development, accusing the PTI of attempting to delegitimize the elections. The party condemned the PTI's actions for tarnishing Pakistan's image.

PTI's Silence and Ongoing Protests

Imran Khan's PTI has yet to respond to Chattha's allegations. The party has been engaged in nationwide protests, alleging rigging and theft of their mandate in the February 8 elections. Chattha's initial claims had provided support to the PTI's narrative, but the retraction raises questions about the party's credibility.

Election Commission's Response

The Election Commission of Pakistan has strongly rejected the allegations against the chief election commissioner made by Chattha. The commission has formed a high-level committee to investigate the explosive allegations.

Chattha's retraction and the involvement of Imran Khan's party have added a new twist to Pakistan's political landscape, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the lengths to which political parties are willing to go to gain power.