Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta who made an explosive claim about election rigging at a press conference on Saturday, was due to retire on March 7, Islamabad-based journalists have said.

Chatta told reporters that he instructed returning officers in the Rawalpindi Division to change the results on February 8.

Almost one week after the polling day, the Rawalpindi commissioner said he deserved to be hung at Rawalpindi’s Ketheri Chowk for electoral rigging.

Journalists including Shaukat Piracha of Aaj News said according to unconfirmed reports Chatta is due to retire next month.

Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir confirmed to Geo News that Chatta was due to retire on March 13. He described the commissioner as a “psychopath”.

Journalist Hassan Ayub claimed Chatta was also a close associate of Gen (r) Faiz Hameed who was the ISI chief under Imran Khan.

In another post, Ayub shared an alleged wedding invitation card of Chatta’ son.

According to the card, Chatta’s son Numair Liaqat Chatta tied the knot on January 21.

Journalist Matiullah Jan, quoting sources said that Chatta dropped the bombshell after he was cheated regarding his promotion in return for helping rig the election.

“He [Chatta] may have several Forms 45 in his custody and to his knowledge, and released this disastrous statement when the possibility of promotion to Grade 21 ended before retirement,” he added.

Political analyst Muzamal Suharwardy claimed that Chatta was a property tycoon and had an investment of over 1,000 files in Al Rehman Garden, allegedly owned by PTI leader Mian Aslam Iqbal to “park his black money”.

In a post, he said that reportedly there had been a meeting between them before the presser.

Meanwhile, journalist Gharidah Farooqi claimed that the Rawalpindi commissioner was the cousin of Ahmed Chatta, who won the election on the PTI ticket.