Following Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha’s admission of involvement in rigging the recent Pakistan elections, the city’s Regional Police Officer, Syed Khurram Ali, announced a 15-day leave on Sunday, stating that he and his family were traveling to the United Kingdom.
Ali’s leave was pre-planned, as he had applied for it before the elections but was only granted approval post-elections. The Punjab Information Department had invited both Commissioner Rawalpindi and RPO Rawalpindi to a press conference regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament, but Ali’s office clarified that he had already applied for leave.
On Friday, the RPO attended the office before traveling to Lahore later in the evening. The additional responsibilities during his absence have been assumed by CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani.
Authorities mentioned uncertainty regarding Ali’s whereabouts, stating that he may have traveled to the UK or still be in Lahore. He is expected to rejoin his duties on March 2, following his 15-day leave.
Chatha’s confession, made a day prior, shocked many as he admitted to rigging the recent elections, implicating not only himself but also pointing fingers at the head of the election commission and the country’s top judge.
He confessed to converting losers into winners in 13 national assembly seats by rigging the electoral outcome, expressing his intention to surrender to the authorities for his involvement in what he termed a “heinous crime.”
In a handwritten letter, Chatha announced his resignation from his post, citing his “deep involvement in serious crimes like mega election rigging 2024.” He directed the letter to Punjab Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, interim provincial chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the provincial chief secretary.
During a press conference, Chatha disclosed significant pressure he faced, even contemplating suicide before deciding to bring the matter to the public’s attention. He urged the bureaucracy not to engage in wrongful actions for political figures and emphasized the need for accountability for all involved in such injustices.
