'Democracy means never shutting the door': Zardari on political crisis in Pak

Commenting on the rising political tension in Islamabad, former President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly stressed on the need to resolve the political impasse through dialogue and has said that democracy means that the doors will never be shut.

Zardari said that there is "no third umpire" and that everyone should work together to ensure that the democracy is not derailed. He added that one democratic government should not challenge another democratic government, especially through street power, reported The Express Tribune.

The former President remarked that Pakistan should stand by the side of the armed forces who are engaged in a military operation in North Waziristan at this moment.

Zardari refused to take sides in the political crisis by saying that he was in favor of Pakistan and not anyone else and added proudly that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had completed five years making peace and he was the one who gave the parliament power.

The former President spoke to the media after a day-long trip to Lahore, during which he met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with along with other PML-N members and leaders of other political parties, including the PML-Q and JI.