Pindi commissioner’s rigging allegations: ECP probe body summons DROs, ROs to record statement

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The first meeting of the Inquiry Committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was held here on Monday to probe allegations levelled by former Rawalpindi Division commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha about change of results in the general elections.

The committee will meet again for the second day today (Tuesday) at 10am here at the Election Commission Secretariat. The committee has summoned all the district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) to record their statements about the rigging allegations. “DROs and ROs can be summoned again, if needed, prior to furnishing our report to be presented before the ECP by Wednesday, as per the mandate given to us by the commission,” ECP sources said.

The committee has thrashed out its terms of reference and reportedly sought transcript of the commissioner’s news conference prior to recording statements of the DROs and ROs. It was reported that hours after the widely-reported and discussed allegations made by the commissioner, the DROs and ROs had issued a statement for investigations into the allegations, while denying any wrongdoing was committed concerning elections and results. Meanwhile, caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed the chairman, Chief Minister Investigation Team (CMIT), to investigate allegations levelled by Chattha regarding rigging in the general elections. In this regard, the secretary to CM Punjab has issued a directive to the chairman CMIT, asking him to thoroughly investigate Chattha’s allegations. The chairman was directed to submit a comprehensive report within seven days.