RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to register a case against the ex-bureaucrat Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha after his allegations about election rigging . 

On the other hand, PTI has sought an “independent and empowered” judicial commission to probe the allegations without the chief justice being made part of it, while the PML-N termed Mr Chattha’s statement ‘May 9 part-II’ aimed at creating unrest in the country with PTI ‘provoking’ hatred against bureaucracy.

At a press conference on Saturday, Mr Chattha accused the CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja and CJP Qazi Faez Isa of being involved in “rigging” and claimed that results were changed to ensure the victory of candidates who were losing.

Following the press conference, the Punjab caretaker chief minister ordered the formation of an inquiry committee. When contacted, Punjab caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir said no committee has been formed yet and the issue “would become clear in a day or two”.

A senior provincial cabinet member said that the government has now decided to file an FIR against the official.

Talking about the government’s change of mind, he said such committees take a long time to wind up the probe and bring facts to light.

The case will be registered in a day or two after approval from the provincial cabinet, he said.

“The FIR will be lodged under sections 196, 196-A of the Criminal Procedure Code and 120-A, 120-B, 121-A, 171-G and 500 of Pakistan Penal Code,” the cabinet member said, adding that provisions of the election code of conduct are also likely to be added to the charge-sheet.

The said sections include provisions for prosecution of offences against the state, criminal conspiracy, waging a ‘war against Pakistan’, making false statements regarding elections and defamation.

The cabinet member said that after the case has been registered, a joint committee of police and intelligence agencies will start the probe.

The case is likely to be filed in Rawalpindi on the complaint of an additional commissioner.

The caretaker government is “serious about the matter” and would vigorously pursue it, the cabinet member said, adding the election record and other material were already in custody.

He said an alleged frontman of the former commissioner was already in police custody, and all records had been shifted to the provincial headquarters.