LAHORE, Aug 15: The PML-N claimed on Sunday that the decision to develop Ghauri and Babur missiles had been taken during the second stint of Nawaz Sharif. Addressing an Independence Day meeting here, former president Rafiq Tarar and former finance minister Ishaq Dar said the present rulers could not claim credit for the achievement.

Mr Tarar said then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, rejecting all baits and temptations, had carried out nuclear tests and was determined to develop the missile technology. He said when the country had made so much progress in these fields, there was no justification for the rulers to fear India.

He asked the nation to vote for PML-N candidates in the local elections.

Ishaq Dar, who is a member of the Senate at present, recalled that he had been sent by Mr Sharif to scientist Dr Samar Mubarikmand for a briefing on Cruise missile. He said Mr Sharif had also declared that he would allocate any amount for the development of missiles.

Senator Dar was critical of the policies of the present rulers, saying they had added to the burden of foreign loans, and still the number of people living below the poverty line had gone up by 15 million.