ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has condemned the statement of Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto "never let slip a chance to damage the country".

The party demanded to know as to why the scientists were being blamed while those who had sold away the nuclear technology were not being questioned.

This was stated here on Wednesday by the party spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar in a rejoinder to a statement by the information minister.

"Sheikh Rashid is only adding fuel to the fire by exploiting an issue of grave threat to the nation's strategic assets by launching personal attacks on Benazir Bhutto. The information minister must remember that it was Ms Bhutto's father who gave the country nuclear technology and it was she who saved the programme in 1989.

"It is Mr Rashid and his godfathers who jeopardized the nuclear programme and are now shifting the blame on to the scientists. He should answer whether and when those who advertised the sale of nuclear related products in 2000 through a full page advertisement would be held accountable. He should also let the people know who was the beneficiary of the $40 million that Saif Gaddafi said was allegedly paid for the "bomb dossier".

He said the issue of nuclear proliferation investigation and handling were being done in a manner to paint the scientists dark and make them appear as the fall guys.

The PPP, Mr Babar said, rejects the press release issued through official media by faceless and nameless officials in the darkness of the night after weeks of media trial and harassment of Dr A.Q. Khan. The flaunting of the press release as the confessions of the nuclear scientist is condemned.

He said no one would believe that Dr Khan or any nuclear scientist sold away nuclear technology on their own until an independent and impartial inquiry was conducted.

"The need of the hour is to create internal unity rather than add to acrimony. Those adding to acrimony at this time are doing a great disservice to the nation."

For creating national unity, the military regime should be ready to eat the humble pie, immediately release all the political prisoners, withdraw the politically motivated cases, personally invite Ms. Bhutto to return to Pakistan and seek a solution with the ARD, he added.