ISLAMABAD, March 10: The military regime should felicitate former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for the successful test of long-range missile Shaheen-II. This was stated by former defence minister and senior central leader of the PPP Aftab Shaban Mirani.

In a statement, Mr Mirani said Pakistan successfully test-fired long-range surface to surface missile Shaheen-II capable of carrying all types of warheads up to 2,500kms. "The PPP is happy to note that the missile development programme initiated and nurtured under the party's governments has taken yet another step forward.

"The party salutes the chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, for this success as it was during her two stints in office as prime minister that the nation committed itself to acquiring missile technology."

Mr Mirani said it was painful to realize what politically- ambitious generals had done to the father and daughter prime ministers who gave the nation nuclear and missile capabilities. "Both Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali have felicitated the scientists and engineers on the development of long range Shaheen-II," he said.

While the scientists deserve to be complimented for successful executing state policies, it is also important to congratulate and not hound the civilian and political leadership whose vision and commitment outlined state policies for scientists to pursue, Mr Mirani said.

He said: "It is hypocrisy of the worst order to persecute policymakers while compliment only those who helped implement the policy. "This hypocrisy must end. The regime must publicly acknowledge that the nuclear and missiles' programmes have been made possible because of the policies of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto."