Rawalpindi commissioner says poll results 'manipulated' under his watch; ECP rejects claims

Reports the press conference of 17 February 2024 at which Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha announced his resignation and alleged that results in Rawalpindi division had been manipulated, saying 'we made independent candidates, who had leads of 70,000-80,000 votes, lose by putting on fake stamps' and implicating the Chief Election Commissioner and a Supreme Court judge. It carries the Election Commission's response the same day: the Commission strongly rejected the allegations, said no official had issued any instruction to change results, noted that a divisional commissioner is never appointed a district returning officer, returning officer or presiding officer and plays no direct role in the conduct of elections, and said it would hold an inquiry.