The first official from the government machinery has called it quits in the wake of protests against the results if the recently-concluded polls. Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha resigned, saying that the results of the Febryary 8 elections were fudged. Talking to journalists, Mr Chattha said he had even contemplated suicide but then decided against it and let the public know what had happened in the polls.
He went on to say that the winning independent candidates supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were made to lose. He even accused the chief election commissioner and the chief justice of being complicit in the rigging process. The allegations made by the Rawalpindi commissioner were rejected by the interim Punjab information minister, Amir Mir, who claimed that Chattha was retiring on March 13 and by making such a statement, he was trying to kick start his political career.
Chattha’s startling revelations have put the entire process in doubt and have strengthened the protesting parties’ stance. Never before has Pakistan seen such massive protests against the outcome of elections. Or maybe the protests in 1977 under the platform of Pakistan National Alliance can come close to what is happening right now.
The results of the protests back then saw Zulfikar Ali Bhutto being ousted and the imposition of martial law by Gen Ziaul Haq. The Febraury 8 polls prompted various parties particularly PTI to take to the streets.
All protesting parties and even some of the winning ones are claiming that they have been robbed of their mandate. The PTI-backed independent candidates remained at the forefront on the winning table despite the party disputing the results of several seats. It has been claiming that it had acquired two-third seats, and most of its candidates were leading on numerous seats. Prominent among those who lost were Yasmin Rashid, Rehana Dar, Salman Akram Raja and Shehryar Riaz, which the party claimed were leading by a big margin.
The PTI supporters protested outside the offices of returning officers against the results and have now decided to stage peaceful protests throughout the country.
The situation is deteriorating with each passing day. The Grand Democratic Alliance, in a massive protest in Hyderabad, denounced the results. The head of the alliance, Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, went on to say that the military had tested everyone and none was left to be tried. He foresaw martial law. Such words from a politician are worrisome.
With the parties quarelling and the economic indicators taking a direct hit, a very wrong message is being sent to international investors. Therefore there is a need to resolve this dispute at the earliest. Our politicians need to play their role and so do the institutions. After all it is the matter of our country’s and millions of its citizens’ future.