12 August 2004	Thursday	25 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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RAWALPINDI, Aug 11: The government must accept the supremacy of parliament and allow the public representatives to make a decision on troops for Iraq. Pakistan People's Party MNA Zamurad Khan said this during a meeting with the PPP Central Committee members Dr Babar Awan and MPA Aamir Fida Paracha at the residence of Ch Muqeem Khan, the central deputy secretary of Zardari Release Committee, here on Wednesday.

Mr Khan said the entire nation was opposed to sending troops to Iraq to further strengthen the US occupation of an Islamic country. If the government really values public opinion, it should bring the matter to parliament and announce that troops won't be sent to Iraq, he said.

He said in a democratic setup the real power resided with the parliament, but in Pakistan all decisions were being taken by the establishment against the public opinion by undermining the sovereignty of parliament.

He also asked the government to involve the people of tribal areas in NWFP and Balochistan in a political dialogue and refrain from using force against them because they were also patriotic Pakistanis.