Election manipulation allegations: Liaquat Chatha records statement, tenders apology   

Former Rawalpindi Commission Liaquat Ali Chatha has apologised over the election manipulation allegations, the 24NewHD TV channel reported on Thursday.

“I am deeply ashamed of my remarks after the general election,” he said in his statement before the election commission probe panel.

“I apologise to all bureaucratic circles and the nation for the statement. “I take full responsibility for all my words and actions and surrender myself for any legal action.”

His statement consists of three pages and 15 paragraphs

Chatta took the entire country by storm last week through his startling ‘revelations about poll rigging’ saying he had manipulated ‘elections results in Rawalpindi division’.

In a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, he claimed that 13 candidates from the division were forcefully declared winners

“We gave the losing candidates leads of 50,000 votes.  I have done injustice to the Rawalpindi Division,” he said. “I tried to commit suicide today after Fajr prayer. But then I thought, why should I die a forbidden death? Why not put everything in front of the people?” he said.

“I accept the responsibility of election rigging in Rawalpindi Division and surrender myself to the police,” he said.

The commissioner said he undertook many development projects in the city but regretted tarnishing his legacy by “stabbing the country in the back”.

“This does not allow me to sleep at night. No, I want to die a peaceful death and I should be punished for what I did. The chief election commissioner and others should be punished along with me,” he said.

“The chief election commissioner and chief justice are involved in poll fraud. We made the independent candidates lose by giving losing candidates a lead of 70,000 by putting fake stamps,” the commissioner claimed.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the allegation and formed a high-level committee to investigate the matter.