August 23, 2007	Thursday	Sha’aban 9, 1428

QUETTA, Aug 22: Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has called for an election commission comprising only those judges who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order to ensure free and fair polls.

Addressing a party convention in Ziarat on Tuesday night, he demanded the formation of a national government to supervise the upcoming elections and transfer of powers to the elected representatives and strengthen political and democratic institutions.

He said the country was passing through a crisis and urged the opposition parties on the platform of the All Parties Democratic Movement to launch a decisive movement to topple the ‘anti-people’ rulers.

The ANP leader condemned the killing of innocent Pukhtuns in tribal areas and said the Taliban were not a product of Pukhtun society but were in fact guests of Islamabad who had caused hardships for the locals.

The ANP leader said the ANP was strictly adhering to the non-violent philosophy of Bacha Khan to achieve the rights of Pakhtuns, adding that it was a great tragedy that Pakhtuns were being killed on the one hand while on the other they were being declared as extremists and terrorists.

He expressed satisfaction over the process of unifying the ANP and Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

The ANP leader said the Pakistan-Afghan jirga convened in Kabul would guarantee peace in the area.