Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa asked for evidence of his role in the rigging of the February 8 elections, following severe allegations made by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha against the top judge and other officials.
"You make bogus charges. There is no truth to it, nor is evidence provided. You have the right to make any claims you choose, but you must provide proof to back them up. Whether good or bad, it will be determined later," the chief justice said while talking to journalists.
He mentioned that his responsibility was limited to facilitating the conduct of elections.
The Chief Justice questioned his and the Supreme Court's ties to the polls, saying that the court only receives and decides on election-related petitions.
The CJP stated that the Supreme Court did not order the elections; rather, it invited both constitutional authorities—the president and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)—to hold the polls after reaching a settlement on a date.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the commissioner's name should be added to the Exit Control List (ECL) immediately.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that anarchy and chaos do not occur in the country," she added.
Chatha submitted his resignation, citing a "guilty conscience" for abetting large-scale electoral cheating in Rawalpindi, escalating the political temperature in the country.
Addressing a news conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the commissioner tendered his resignation, saying that he had done harm to the people of his hometown.
During the unusual news conference, the commissioner accepted responsibility for the "rigging" that he asserted occurred in Rawalpindi Division. "We converted the losers into winners by 50,000 votes," he said as he surrendered to the authorities.
"I apologize to the returning officers of my division," he stated, adding that his subordinates were sobbing over what they were told to do.
Chatha alleged that even now, election officials place false stamps on vote sheets. "We wronged the country; I should be executed at Rawalpindi's Kachehri Chowk," he stressed.
He also claimed that he attempted suicide in the morning, citing pressure from social media as well as overseas Pakistanis.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dismissed Chatta's claims, which drew strong condemnation from the PML-N and the Punjab government. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf applauded the development, while the Pakistan Peoples Party urged an investigation into the situation.