Election manipulation allegation: ECP body recommends contempt, criminal proceedings against Chattha
Stay tuned with 24 News HD Android App
The committee, constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan, to dig into manipulation allegations has submitted its report, sources said on Friday.
They added that the probe panel that the allegation levelled by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha was false.
The sources said the committee recommended contempt of the election commission and criminal proceedings against the former Rawalpindi commissioner in the report.
The insiders cited the report as saying Chattha admitted to 'giving his statement under the influence of someone'.
Chattha apologised over his statement before the inquiry committee, the report said, adding that the ex-commissioner's blames 'are based on lies'.
The sources said the statement of the former Pindi commissioner has been attached to the report.
Yesterday, Chatha apologised over the election manipulation allegations in his statement before the committee.
His statement consists of three pages and 15 paragraphs. “I am deeply ashamed of my remarks after the general election,” he said.
“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,” he added.
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 ECP the allegation and formed a high-level committee to investigate the matter.