JOIN USSharif, who heads the main opposition PML-N party, made the remarks while addressing a news conference in this northwestern city.
He said Pakistan is passing through a difficult time and it is the need of the hour to strictly adhere to the rule of law and constitution.There should also be good governance as it is the panacea to all problems facing the country, Sharif said.
Democracy cannot be strengthened by following policies that are repugnant to the basic norms of democracy and the Pakistan People’s Party-led government is doing all it can to weaken the democratic process, he said.
The Supreme Court’s order striking down the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that benefited Zardari and thousands of others, should be respected without any ifs and buts, said Sharif.
The NRO was the "gift of a dictator to facilitate influential people", he added.
The apex court last month annulled the NRO, which was issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007.
Sharif, who addressed the news conference after attending a meeting of the local chapter of his party, said the situation would have been different today if the Charter of Democracy signed by the PPP and the PML-N in 2006 had been implemented in letter and spirit.
Replying to a question regarding immunity from criminal prosecution granted to the President by the constitution, Sharif said if he had been in Zardari’s place, he would have gone to court to defend himself against corruption charges.
In response to another query on initiatives launched by the West to integrate moderate Taliban in the government in Afghanistan, Sharif said this process should have been adopted earlier.