07 January 2005	Friday	25 Ziqa'ad 1425

WASHINGTON, Jan 6: A five-member congressional delegation is leaving for Pakistan next week for talks on bilateral relations. Sources at the US Congress said that the delegation would be in Pakistan from Jan 15 to 17.

It is expected to meet President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman Senate among other legislators. They may also meet opposition leaders and discuss with them the dispute concerning President Musharraf's decision to retain his position in the army along with that of the head of state.

The delegation includes Republican Congressmen John Paul Kline Jr. from Minnesota, John R. Carter and Michael Clifton Burgess from Texas and Democratic Congressmen James C. Marshall from Georgia and Kendrick Brett Meek from Florida.

Congressman Kline is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and also serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee. Mr Carter serves on the House Education and the Workforce Committee and also on House Government Reform and House Judiciary Committees.

Mr Burgess is a member of the House Science Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr Marshall serves on the House Agriculture Committee, the House Armed Services and the House Small Business Committees.

Since three of the five members of the delegation are associated with the House Armed Services Committee, the talks are expected to focus on US defence ties to Pakistan.

Observers hope that the inclusion of a member of the government reform committee in the delegation will allow Islamabad to explain its position on some issues like democracy, the role of the Pakistani military in the present setup and the demand for more power to elected representatives.