QUETTA, Dec 6: The president of the Awami Muslim League (AML), Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, has called for setting up a ‘free and independent’ commission to investigate the cases of the additional marks awarded to the daughter of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and the job of the son of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that people wanted to know facts.

“A commission should conduct probe into both cases and unveil the truth,” he said.

Referring to the military operation in tribal areas, Mr Ahmed said that the government should withdraw troops from there and resolve all issues through negotiations. “I am not in favour of operation in any area of the country, including Balochistan.”

Accusing the government of having allowed the United States to attack tribal areas, he said no such permission had been granted during the Musharraf regime.

Mr Ahmed criticised the Indian media and said that it was playing a negative role after the Mumbai attacks and attacking Pakistan’s solidarity.

“The government must ban Indian TV channels in Pakistan immediately,” he said.

Criticising the government’s performance, he said that it had failed to resolve the people’s problems.

He said the PPP leadership had proved that it was unable to tackle the situation

He said Pakistan was facing isolation because of the government’s wrong policies.

“Our rulers do not have the capacity to face international pressure.”

Referring to increased electricity rates and petroleum prices, Mr Ahmed said that there was no justification for increasing gas rates.