MULTAN, Sept 26: MMA’s Deputy Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch has opposed sending of troops to Iraq, even if this is done under the umbrella of the UNO or the OIC.

At a press conference here on Friday, he said, the presence of the Pakistan army in Iraq under these circumstances would be tantamount to safeguarding the US interests in the invaded territory.

Commenting on Gen Pervez Mushsarraf’s address to the UN general assembly, Mr Baloch said that was a nice speech but “the international community would not have taken it serious because of the fact that the general could not address his own country’s national assembly so far.”

“We agree to Gen Musharraf’s comment at a forum in Canada that the Pakistan’s parliament had immature members. It is to be remembered, however, that this is because of the frequent military interventions in the country’s civilian affairs,” said the MNA.

He said the government-MMA talks on the LFO had been completed and an accord reached on 28 of the 29 controversial points of order. “Only the cut off date of the uniform has to be announced,” he said.

According to Mr Baloch, the government was giving a verbal assurance that the general would shed his uniform before Dec 31, 2004, but the MMA wanted it in black and white. He, however, alleged that the government was wasting time rather than seriously working to end the dispute. “Now even Sharifuddin Pirzada has claimed that the key to resolving the dispute is with the president,” he remarked.

He denied differences in the ranks of the MMA. He said Maulana Samiul Haq had complained at the MMA supreme council’s meeting that his party, the JUI-S, had problems with the NWFP government and a committee had been constituted to look into the matter. He stressed that the religio-political parties must unite for the integrity of the country.

The MMA leader said the country needed more water reservoirs, but decision in this regard must be taken in parliament or at the forum of the inter-provincial council of common interest.