Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha’s surprising comments concerning alleged systemic cheating during the February 8 general election swept the internet.
In a stunning development, the commissioner tendered his resignation, citing “guilty conscience” for abetting electoral cheating in the garrison city, upping the political stakes in the country.
“Rawalpindi Commissioner resigns in protest against electoral irregularities”
In response to his testimony, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa sought evidence of his role in the rigging of the February 8 elections, after the commissioner leveled serious claims against him and other authorities.
Property tycoon Malik Riaz categorically denied any involvement with the commissioner, claiming he had never met Chatha and offeredcooperation for investigations in this regard.
Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United Nations, stated: “The Commissioner Rawalpindi’s claims about ballot rigging are a bombshell.”
Mohammad Zubair, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), took to his X handle, formerly known as Twitter, and said, “No way for PML-N but to publicly accept defeat and let the country move on.”
He believed that the problem had gotten worse once the commissioner resigned.
Senior journalist Zarrar Khuhro urged people to honor the commissioner for “boldly speaking the truth”.
Qasim Khan Suri, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in response to the commissioner’s claims.
PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi denied the claims, claiming that the commissioner attempted to undermine Pakistan.
