A week has passed since the results of general elections were declared in Pakistan. But the new government has not been formed. Meanwhile, on Sunday, a senior official resigned from his post and took responsibility for all the rigging that took place in the elections. He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Justice were involved in irregularities in the recent elections.
The statement of former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta comes at a time when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched nationwide protests over the February 8 elections. PTI is alleging scam and mandate theft in the general elections.
'CEC and CJP involved in manipulation'
Chatta spoke to reporters at the Raopindi Cricket Stadium. During this, he said that the candidates contesting the elections have been made victorious. A media quoted him as saying, I am accepting responsibility for all these irregularities. Let us tell you that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Chief Justice (CJP) were also fully involved in this rigging. Chatta resigned from his post, accepting responsibility for rigging the election results. He also said that the country has been stabbed in the back, due to which it is not able to sleep.
'Can I be punished for my wrongdoing?'
He said, I must be punished for the injustice I have done. Other people involved in this injustice should also be punished. The former bureaucrat further said that he was under so much pressure that he even thought of committing suicide. But then he decided to put the issue of rigging before the public. He said, I request the entire bureaucracy not to do anything wrong with all these politicians.
ECP rejects bureaucrat's allegations
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) categorically rejected Chatta's allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner. It said that the ECP denies the allegations made by the Rawalpindi Commissioner against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission. No Election Commission official ever gave any instructions to the Rawalpindi Commissioner to change the election results.
PML-N criticized PTI's demand
At the same time, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) criticized former Prime Minister Imran Khan's demand for investigation into alleged US interference in the general elections, saying that it would be against Pakistan's sovereignty. PML-N is a party led by Nawaz Sharif.
Imran Khan on Thursday sent a message to America that it should express concern over rigging in Pakistan's general elections. After this, PML-N leader Maryam Aurangzeb addressed the press conference and said, we are not slaves (of America). This will be against the sovereignty of Pakistan. PML-N criticized PTI for seeking help from the US against alleged election rigging and reminded it that according to you (Imran Khan), the US had conspired to topple your government.