PML-N's Raja Riaz claims former Rawalpindi commissioner 'sold' himself for 'Rs250m, New York flat'

• Raja Riaz claims he was most corrupt magistrate.
• PML-N leader says Chatha took money near his retirement.
• He demands to place ex-commissioner's name on ECL.

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Raja Riaz has levelled a spectrum of allegations against former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Chatha including his receiving hundreds of millions of rupees and an apartment in New York from overseas Pakistanis.

During a presser in Faisalabad, former opposition leader Riaz said that Chatha was sold for Rs250 million and given a flat in New York by Pakistanis living abroad, The News reported on Monday.

“I want to tell you about his past. He has worked in Faisalabad for 20 years and he was the most corrupt magistrate. He falsely accused the chief election commissioner and chief justice of corruption after taking money near his retirement,” he alleged.

The PML-N leader also requested the concerned authorities to place the former commissioner’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) and hold an inquiry into his allegations.

“Liaqat Chatha's name should be put on the ECL and an inquiry should be launched. The last posting to Chatha was given by Usman Buzdar for Rs50 million,” he alleged. He said that the PTI tried to repeat May 9 last day but failed.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Chatha quits 

On Saturday, in a dramatic development, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaqat Chatha had tendered his resignation, which he said was out of "guilty conscience" for abetting large-scale electoral rigging in the garrison city further raising the political mercury in the country.

Addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chatha had announced to step down from his position, admitting he did injustice to the people of his city.

The Rawalpindi Division comprises 13 National Assembly seats, on which 11 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates were successful, while one was secured by an independent candidate and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) each. The division also has 27 provincial seats — on which PML-N was successful on 15 and 11 independents.

The commissioner, in the rare press conference, had taken responsibility for the "rigging" in Rawalpindi Division. “We converted the losers into winners with 50,000 votes margin,” he had stated, surrendering himself before the authorities.