No threat to country’s democratic set-up, ready for talks with Zardari: Sharif

ISLAMABAD - Ruling out any threat to the present democratic set-up in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that he is ready to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, but only if clear agendas are fixed prior to the meeting.

Interacting with media persons after a meeting of party leaders here, Sharif said the talks should be result-oriented.

“There is no threat to the system. If there is any threat, it will be from undemocratic moves. We will support the democratic process and the constitution,” The Daily Times quoted Sharif, as saying.

While reassuring the PML-N’s support to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Government, Sharif criticised the government for not implementing the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and abolishing the 17th Amendment.

Commenting on the issue of resignation of NRO beneficiaries ministers and other top officials, the former Prime Minister said: “The government itself should have secluded the beneficiary ministers until they cleared themselves of all charges. We want to support the democratic system but that does not mean we exonerate those who committed corruption.”

Later, in his message on the second death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Sharif described Bhutto’s assassination as a ’sad chapter in the political history of the country’.

“Benazir had achieved a unique status in Pakistani politics due to her extraordinary intelligence, tireless efforts and bold style of politics. That is why the tragic death of Benazir shocked her party members and millions of Pakistanis equally,” Sharif said. (ANI)