U-Turn: Here's complete statement of ex-commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatha

Former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha, who retracted his bombshell claims regarding manipulation of the February 8 polls in favour of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates, has made another startling claim that the entire rigging propaganda was planned by the top leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).    

Read his full statement here:

I, Liaqat Ali Chatha, Ex-Commissioner Rawalpindi do hereby state that:-

I, Liaqat Ali Chatha, have remained in civil services of Punjab for past 32 years and was last posted as Commissioner Rawalpindi. I was due to retire after reaching age of superannuation on 13 March 2024. During my career in the civil services of Punjab I had worked against multiple highly relevant and esteemed positions.

After the General Elections of 2018, when Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) formed government in Punjab, I remained posted against senior provincial posts, including my posting as Provincial Secretary to Government of Punjab. The position of Secretary is among the top posts in the provincial government. While posted as Provincial Secretary, I got opportunities to develop relationships with senior and prominent political figures of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI). It was naturally in my interest to develop personal relations with these prominent individuals and I actively did so. It was during this time that I developed cordial personal friendship with one of v the prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI).

After the incident of 9 May 2023, as with other leadership of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI), the said prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) also absconded from courts, was declared as a Proclaim Offender (PO) and has been hiding. Throughout this time, I had direct contact with him and I kept on discreetly helping him on various issues. Consequently, my relationship with said prominent Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) leader evolved into a very close friendship based on high level of trust.

After the General Elections (“GEs”) of 2024, on 11February 2024 I secretly and discreetly travelled to Lahore and held a meeting with him. It was in this meeting, that he made an offer to me that if I play a role for supporting the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI)’s ongoing narrative of rigging in General Elections (“GEs”) and maligning state institutions, he would ensure a lucrative position for me in future. He informed me that this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI).

This proposal was made by the said individual in consideration of the fact that I was about to retire from service. He was also aware of the fact that I was under pressure due to this forthcoming retirement. After having remained a part of the services for 32 years, it is naturally hard for any civil servant to let go of all perks, privileges and authorities which are attached with the same.

We had detailed discussion on the proposed press conference and he conveyed me the general direction which was needed to be adopted by me. Initially it was proposed by me that I would write the entire narrative and submit the same as part of my resignation. However, this proposal was dropped by the said prominent Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) leader as such written resignation would not create any sensations for their narrative building. After detailed discussions, it was agreed that a press conference would be conducted by me at a time and date to be conveyed after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI).

The primary aim of this proposed press conference was to create sensations and drama augmenting false narratives being built by the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI). It was towards this aim that the press conference was called for Pakistan Super League (PSL) on 17February 2024 wherein I made the sensationalized statements.

Similarly, it was agreed that I would give sweeping and emotional statements by suggesting that all the seats were being won by the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) candidates and that I helped in changing the entire results against Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI). Anyone having knowledge of the election process would know that such/sweeping shifts cannot possibly be made in elections by the Returning Officers (ROs). However, these generalized statements were thought to be sufficient for purposes of malicious narrative building.

It was with the same intent of creating drama and sensation that during the press conference I had stated that I attempted to commit suicide and that I should be hanged in public. These were well-thought statements which were made with specific aim of creating drama and sensations, which aim was fulfilled to a large extent.

The name of the Chief Justice of Pakistan was taken with the aim of creating mistrust in general public against him. The Chief Justice of Pakistan did not have any role in the entire election process. However, I was specifically asked by said prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) to name the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). He told me that he had been specifically asked by his top leadership to do so. The aims behind naming the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) were manifold. I was told that it would help in creating the momentum of this entire narrative as Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) had already been sowing seeds of doubts and distrust in the public minds against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

Furthermore, it was also aimed that through this press conference, the entire election process throughout the country was to be tainted. To this end, raising questions against all constitutional institutions and authorities was required.

Similarly, the Chief Election Commissioner was named with the aim of raising questions on the entire elections process throughout Pakistan.

It was further decided that the press conference would be held in a coordinated manner. It was planned in advance that Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) would give a call for countrywide protests against the election process.

The press conference was to be conducted on the specific day for which the call for protests is made by Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI). It was as per this planning that the press conference was conducted by me on 17 February 2024 when the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) had called for countrywide protests.

I did not pass any instructions or orders to any of the Returning Officers (ROs) performing election duties in Rawalpindi Division to either favor or support any contesting candidates or do any sort of manipulation or rigging in the elections process. 

Moreover, none of the Returning Officers (ROs) working in Rawalpindi Division filed any complaint of rigging in their respective areas of duty to me, nor did they seek any kind of directions from me in this regard.

Similarly, I had not received any instructions from Chief Election Commissioner to either favor or support any candidates, nor had I ever talked to him regarding any sort of manipulation or rigging in the elections process.

Since my unwarranted press conference on 17" February 2024 has already created lot of chaos and mess in the country therefore I have abstained from naming the relevant individuals in my above statement.

In the end I feel extremely ashamed and embarrassed for making totally false, concocted, anti-state and malicious statement in the press conference. This activity caused embarrassment for me as well as for entire bureaucratic fraternity. I apologise to the entire bureaucratic circles of the country whose reputation has been seriously dented by my actions. I take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself before the authorities for any kind of legal action.