What’s a commissioner’s role in the election process? The aftermath of the 2024 general elections in the Rawalpindi Division has been marred by controversy following startling admissions made by Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha regarding widespread electoral rigging.
In an unprecedented move, Chatha confessed during a press conference, admitting to manipulating the results to ensure certain candidates secured victory with a substantial margin of 50,000 votes.
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However, authorities swiftly refuted Chatha’s claims, asserting that commissioners have no jurisdiction over the electoral process.
What’s a commissioner’s role in election process?
Joint Provincial Election Commissioner Sardar Nazar Abbas clarified that the role of commissioners is strictly limited to administrative support for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), such as facilitating transportation for officials like returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs).
The hierarchical structure of the electoral process was reiterated, emphasizing the ECP’s supremacy, followed by provincial election commissions, district returning officers (DROs), ROs, and AROs.
Abbas underscored that commissioners, including Chatha, have no involvement in result compilation, which is the responsibility of ROs and AROs.
Presiding officers are tasked with preparing Form-45, containing results from individual polling stations, while ROs compile this data into Form-47s, representing the overall constituency results.
Abbas emphasized the absence of commissioner interference in the electoral process, even at the level of compiling Form-47s.
Chatha’s revelations have sparked outrage, with opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged electoral manipulation.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which secured a significant victory in the division, reiterated the non-involvement of commissioners in result compilation, echoing the sentiments of other major political players.
