To: The Secretary
Election Commission of Pakistan,
Islamabad
Subject!) STATEMENT.
Respectfully Sheweth;
1, Liagat Ali Chatha, Ex Commissioner Rawalpindi do hereby state that:-
1, Liagat Ali Chatha, have remained in civil services of Punjab for past 32 years and
‘was last posted as Commissioner Rawalpindi. { was due to retire after reaching age of
superannuation on 13 March 2024. During my career in the
| services of Punjab 1
had worked against multiple highly relevant and esteemed p
ions.
Afier the General Elections of 2018, when Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) formed
government in Punjab, I remained posted against senior provineial 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, 1 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 indi
duals and I actively
did so. It was during this time that I developed cordial personal friendship
the prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI).
one of
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 1" February 2024 | 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 32years, itis 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 (PT!).
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 17" February 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 (PT!) 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 (CIP) 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.
1 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 apologize
to the entire bureaucratic circles of the country whose reputation has been seriously
dented by my actions. 1 take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself
before the authorities for any kind of legal action.
(Ciagat Ali Chatha)