HYDERABAD, May 28: The members of the Hyderabad District Council here on Tuesday backed President Gen Pervez Musharraf and armed forces in the standoff with India and paid tributes to them for conducting successful missiles tests.

Convenor Nawab Rashid Ali Khan suspended the agenda of the council and threw the resolution of Mohammad Yusuf Qureshi for an open debate when Dr Ayaz Arain invited the attention of the chair on a point of order towards the current situation in the country.

In his speech, Mr Qureshi said it was the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who had given nuclear technology to the country by bringing back Dr Abdul Qadir Khan to Pakistan.

He said Nawaz Sharif had also taken an important decision to conduct nuclear tests which maintained a balance in the region.

Rana Mehmood Ali Khan said the nation stood behind the soldiers at this crucial stage. He, however, called for a full-time army chief in the country and asked Gen Pervez Musharraf to concentrate on borders.

Woman councillor Farheen Mughal hailed the speech of Gen Musharraf saying that he had shown his willingness to accelerate the pace for restoration of democracy.

Earlier, the EDO, health, Dr Qadir Buksh Memon, responded to the questions of members.