LAHORE, Oct 24: Punjab PML-N President Sirdar Zulfikar Ali Khosa and Vice-President Mian Javed Lateef say parliament alone can decide the minimum nuclear deterrence and no individual is competent to define it.

In a statement here on Friday, they said decisions concerning national defence could not be left to the discretion of a single person, a reference to Gen Pervez Musharraf.

They said to enable the country to meet assorted challenges ahead restoration of democracy in its pure form, the continuation and upgradation of the nuclear programme and unconditional repatriation of the exiled leaders were imperative.

It appeared as if the rulers were waiting for an opportunity to send troops to Iraq, unmindful of the fact that the Islamic countries had stood with Pakistan at every difficult juncture, they added.