The Ghaznavi is based on blueprints of the M-11. But is a different breed internally, with just the shell being similar, Shaheen-1 is as such an extension of the same "Shell" but the projects are unrelated in that the development of both proceeded independently. Basically, there are two "schools" of thought there were active within the Pakistani R&D scene during the 90s before AQK fell out of favour after his dealings were found to go beyond what the generals had authorized and themselves dipped in.
Both schools of thought however look to taking whatever path achieves the goal. So when it came to a ballistic systems category.. the scientists and engineers within the nuclear program who had really done their research soon found themselves being asked to develop missile systems.. and in the words of the ultimate high horse(who did not engage in proliferation) it meant going down to the library and rent books on basic rocketry and starting over.
In the meantime the establishment looked to procure missile systems and blueprints to try and give them a headstart. When the Chinese systems did arrive they arrived as empty shells as it was suspected that a complete system would violate the MTCR which the Chinese did not want(you cant violate the MTCR if you only end up with a hollow shell) so a new avenue was looked into getting the capability ASAP for which the more business savvy and less scientist AQK was put to work.
The other team was handed the hollow shell and the associated blueprints and told to build it..which meant that they had to do the Motor from the ground up which was not that difficult.. but the guidance and control sections needed a lot more effort as the Chinese system was found to be insufficient. This meant rounds of Dubai(where as I love to repeat the Pakistani folks found themselves sitting across Indian ones in the same room of a dealer) and trips to Eastern Europe(thank god for the dissolution of the Soviet Union). Long story short, the Shaheen does resemble the Chinese systems a lot but is a very different beast inside.. so much so that calling it the M-11 would be injustice. Just as calling the Babur the Tomahawk would be injustice.
