Biography of Liaqat Ali Chattha
Liaqat Ali Chattha, a Pakistani civil servant, recently resigned from his position as the Commissioner of Rawalpindi Division, confessing to his involvement in electoral fraud during the 2024 Pakistani general election.
He admitted to aiding Pakistan Muslim League (N) candidates in securing 11 out of 13 national assembly seats in Rawalpindi through the use of counterfeit stamps. Additionally, he accused the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Justice of Pakistan of complicity in the scheme.
These allegations have sparked controversy and prompted an inquiry by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which refuted Chattha’s assertions, stating that divisional commissioners had no direct role in the electoral process. Similarly, the Chief Justice of Pakistan dismissed his claims as unfounded.
Prior to his resignation, Chattha enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in civil service, holding various positions in cities such as Faisalabad, Gujrat, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Lahore.
Early Life and Education
Liaqat Ali Chattha was born in Hafizabad, Punjab, into a landowning family with agricultural holdings spanning 24 acres. He has two brothers and two sons, one of whom resides in the UK while the other lives in Lahore.
Chattha received his primary and secondary education in his hometown, where his interest in politics and law blossomed. Actively participating in debates and competitions during his school and college years, he was deeply influenced by the Muslim League movement and the struggle for Pakistan’s independence.
Continuing his education at the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College (now Aligarh Muslim University) in India, Liaqat Ali Chattha pursued studies in political science and law, graduating with a BSc in Political Science and LLB in 1918. He was actively involved in the Muslim Students Federation and the All India Muslim League, forging connections with prominent Muslim leaders and intellectuals of the era.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Chattha opted to join the civil service of Pakistan. Successfully passing the competitive examination, he was selected for the Provincial Management Service (PMS) in 1950, commencing his career as an executive magistrate in Faisalabad.
Continuing his educational and professional development, Chattha obtained a master’s degree in public administration from the University of the Punjab in 1962, supplementing his qualifications with various training courses and workshops both domestically and internationally.
Career
Embarking on his civil service journey as an executive magistrate in Faisalabad, Chattha held a variety of positions in the city, notably serving as executive district officer finance from 1992 to 2012.
Subsequently, he assumed roles such as deputy secretary at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat during the tenure of former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. He also served as PSO to Hamza Shahbaz, the chief minister’s son, establishing a network of contacts and influence within political and bureaucratic circles.
Later assignments included deputy commissioner positions in Gujrat and Sargodha, with Chattha’s appointment reportedly influenced by a business magnate from Gujrat. He also oversaw projects such as gymkhanas and general bus stands in these cities.
Liaqat Ali Chattha held key positions in the Government of Punjab, including secretary for the Labor & Human Resource department and roles at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and the Punjab Revenue Authority. Rising to the rank of PMS-20, he assumed the role of Commissioner of Rawalpindi Division in 2023.
During his tenure as commissioner, Chattha spearheaded various projects, including the Ring Road, Daducha Dam, Chahan Dam, Pirwadhai Bus Stand, and Safe City. He also served as commissioner in Dera Ghazi Khan and as secretary for Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health in the Government of Punjab.
Resignation
Chattha gained prominence on 17 February 2024, over a week after the 2024 Pakistani general election, when he resigned from his post as Commissioner of Rawalpindi Division, admitting his involvement in electoral fraud. His confession revealed that PML-N candidates secured victory in 11 out of 13 national assembly seats through the use of fake stamps, despite trailing by approximately 70,000 votes per candidate in the actual counts.
In his resignation, Liaqat Ali Chattha implicated Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in the electoral fraud. He also expressed feeling overwhelmed to the extent of contemplating suicide.
The ensuing controversy prompted an inquiry by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which refuted Chattha’s allegations, stating that divisional commissioners had no direct role in the electoral process. Similarly, the Chief Justice of Pakistan dismissed his claims as groundless.
Family and Net Worth
Married to the daughter of a local business tycoon, Liaqat Ali Chattha has two sons, one residing in the UK and the other in Lahore. Hailing from a landowning family in Hafizabad, Punjab, where he was born and educated, Liaqat Ali Chattha has an estimated net worth of $500,000 as of 2024.
