Islamabad: Pakistan plans to test-fire medium range nuclear capable missile Shaheen- 111 before the October 10 elections.

Preparations are underway to test the missile which has a range of 700 km at Somyani coast, 'Jung' daily reported on October 3.

Another daily 'Khabareen' said the missile could be test-fired in 24 hours.

A decision to test the missile was taken during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters two days ago, it said.

Though there was no official announcement so far, the media reports acquired credence as the Indian Charge d'Affaires Sudhir Vyas has been invited by the Pakistan Foreign Office for a meeting later in the evening.

Indian officials in Islamabad, however, were not sure about the purpose of the meeting.

Pakistan has conducted a series of tests of its long and medium range missiles in May this year. The tests included its medium range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Hataf-V, and Hatif-II called "Abdali", which has a range of 180 km, were tested in quick succession in three days.

The missile tests carried out during the height of military tensions with India drew criticism from US and other countries.

If Pakistan went ahead with another missile test, it would be seen as the last test to be conducted by the military regime before it technically handed over power to an elected administration.

PTI