In a show of strength, the three parties that emerged victorious in Pakistan's general election - Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Awami National Party on Wednesday claimed they had a two-thirds majority in new Parliament and demanded that the National Assembly be convened immediately.
At a luncheon hosted by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for newly elected Parliamentarians, leaders of the three parties said they would support each other to form the federal government and to change the establishment to ensure that the military no longer had a role in Pakistan's politics.
Without naming President Pervez Musharraf, Zardari emphasised the need to change the system. PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif was more forthright in his comments against Musharraf, saying the former military ruler should realise that the three parties and their supporters had a two-thirds majority.
"The nation has given a verdict against dictatorship, the nation has given a verdict from every nook and corner for democracy. And the people who really believe in democracy are sitting here together," Sharif said.
"Please see the numbers Mr Musharraf. We already have a two-thirds majority and I would like to inform Mr Musharraf we are not prepared to wait for a single more day for the assembly to be convened," he said to loud applause.
The PPP won the maximum 88 seats in the February 18 polls followed by PML-N, which bagged 66. The ANP has 10 National Assembly seats.
Sharif urged the Election Commission to officially declare the results of the polls and the session of the National Assembly be convened the 'very next day' so that the new government could be formed.
Zardari, whose party has not pressed as strongly as the PML-N for the ouster of Musharraf, said he did not want revenge for his assassinated wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, but wanted to change the establishment.
"Pakistan stands on the verge of disaster, but it also stands on the verge of opportunity," Zardari said, adding the results of the February 18 general election had provided a 'window of opportunity' to usher in complete democracy.
Zardari, Sharif and ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan also paid rich tributes to Bhutto, saying she had sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy.
Sharif said the occasion reminded him of Bhutto and what it 'would have been like if she was still among us'. He added, "We all miss her very badly".
Senior PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who has emerged as the front-runner for the post of prime minister, also attended the meeting.
Altogether 171 newly elected members of the National Assembly were present. The number is short of a two-thirds majority but party officials are confident of roping in more independent lawmakers to reach the magic figure.
