ISLAMABAD Aug 1: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has urged the government not to send troops to Iraq under any pretext and demanded a categorical statement in this regard. In a statement issued here on Sunday, Asad Ansar, secretary policy planning; Amir Mahmood Kiani, joint secretary; Saifullah Niazi, political secretary, and Azhar Tariq Khan, secretary finance, said "the whole nation has a consensus on this issue and rulers must take lesson from recent incidents".

"Rather than assisting the occupying forces in Iraq, the government should perform its primary responsibility to defend and protect the rights of Pakistanis in the country and abroad."

They expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and the growing incidents of bomb explosions. They said the persistent violations of fundamental human rights by the government had forced the PTI chairman to launch a "defence of fundamental rights campaign".

In their view, had the government announced in clear and unambiguous terms that it would not send troops to Iraq, the lives of two innocent Pakistanis might have been saved.

The PTI leaders said the party would utilize all means to defend the fundamental rights of the citizens as the party chairman had formed a fourteen-member "Defence of fundamental rights committed" with Dr Khalid Khwaja as its head. The committee will provide free legal assistance to the individuals and their families who were victims of state abuse.