Hostage's kin blames Pervez

"Had the Pak Govt tried, this tragedy would've been averted," said the kin of a hostage killed after 5 days of captivity in Iraq. In Hindi

The family of one of two Pakistani migrant workers reportedly executed by Iraqi militants blamed President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday, saying he could have saved their lives by ruling out sending troops to Iraq.

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"If the government of Pakistan had tried, this tragedy could've been averted," said a grieving Abdul Razaq, whose brother-in-law Azad Hussein Khan was killed after five days in captivity, according to Al-Jazeera television.

"The government of Pakistan should've categorically said it would not send troops to Iraq," he said from Rawalakot, a small village in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

Al-Jazeera reported late on Wednesday that Iraqi abductors killed Khan, 49, and Sajid Naeem, 29, both contractors from Rawalakot. The station did not air footage of the bodies which it had received from the captors.

The abductors, who identified themselves as the Islamic Army of Iraq, had indicated Musharraf should rescind statements about the possibility of contributing troops to guard future UN missions in Baghdad.

Pakistan, the world's second largest Muslim country, was wooed heavily last year by the United States and Britain to contribute to a Muslim peacekeeping force, but rejected their demands.

It has since been considering requests to send troops to protect UN buildings, but has said this would require Iraqi approval and the support of its own parliament.

Islamabad has not yet made a firm commitment, nor has it ruled out the possibility.

Razaq pleaded with the government to send a strong signal that it would not send troops to Iraq, to save the lives of other poor Pakistani workers still in the violence-strewn country.

"We have suffered an irretrievable loss, but there are thousands of Kashmiris working in Iraq earning bread and butter to send back home," he said.

"For their safety and security the government should state that it's not sending troops to Iraq."

Khan and Naeem had been employed by Saudi-owned Al-Tamimi group, whose managers Mohammad Ilyas Khan and Saddar Shabir are Pakistani Kashmiris from Rawalakot and have recruited hundreds of local villagers.

A Pakistani driver abducted then released last month after threats of execution was also from Rawalakot.

About 25,000 to 30,000 Pakistani Kashmiris have travelled to the Middle East in search of work to send money home to their poverty-stricken families.