RAWALPINDI: In a dramatic turn of events, newly-appointed Commissioner Rawalpindi, Saif Anwar Jhappa, vehemently denied all allegations of polls rigging leveled by his predecessor, Liaquat Ali Chattha.
Hours after Chattha’s shocking confession to involvement in rigging the February 8 elections and his subsequent resignation, Jhappa held a press conference at the DC office here on Saturday to address the situation.
Chattha’s confession included claims that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were illegally declared winners, alleging manipulation of results through the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan. He asserted that independent candidates who were leading by over 70,000 votes were made to lose with fake documentations.
“I accept all the responsibility. I should be hanged. I cannot participate in the crime that could destroy Pakistan,” declared Chattha in his resignation statement.
Contrary to Chattha’s claims, newly-appointed Commissioner Saif Anwar Jhappa, at the press conference, insisted that Election 2024 was transparent. He asserted that the commissioner’s role was solely one of a coordinators.
Jhappa was accompanied by the District Returning Officers (DROs) of all four districts under Rawalpindi Division – Rao Atif Raza (Attock), Hasan Waqar Cheema (Rawalpindi), Qurtaul Ain (Chakwal) and Captain (R) Sami (Jhelum).
DRO Rawalpindi Hasan Waqar Cheema said the elections were held transparently, denying all allegations as he called for an investigation into the claims made by the former commissioner.
DRO Chakwal Quratul Ain also supported Cheema’s stance, stating that elections in Chakwal were conducted under the Election Act, and all processes adhered to the oath. She sought an independent investigation into the allegations.
Similarly, DROs Attock and Jhelum, Rao Atif Raza, and Captain (R) Sami also denied any pressure during the February 8 polls, asserting that the elections in their respective districts were conducted transparently.
DRO Talagang Khawar Bashir stated that they conducted transparent elections in Talagang and called for an independent investigation into Chattha’s allegations.
