RAWALPINDI, Feb 11: Central vice-president of PML-Q Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has appealed to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto to play her role in safeguarding the country's nuclear programme.

In a statement, Mr Wasti said Benazir Bhutto's country needed her support and in "my capacity as an ex-colleague of Benazir Bhutto in democratic struggle, I appeal to her to support safeguarding of the vital programme for larger national interest".

He lauded President Pervez Musharraf for paying tributes to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on initiating the nuclear programme. He said after such a praise, criticism against Benazir Bhutto was unwarranted and ministerial statements against her should be stopped. He also requested Ms Bhutto not to issue negative statements as both she and nuclear programme were legacies of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.