March 20, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

NEW YORK, March 19: The co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari, said on Wednesday that his party and its allies would try to reverse the “current regime’s suppression of civil society and free speech”.

He promised to work with all political parties for the good of the nation.

In a commentary written for CNN after the National Assembly’s inaugural session on Monday, Mr Zardari observed that the Pakistan Army’s “misperception of itself as the country’s only viable institution, and its deep-rooted suspicion of the civil political process” had hampered the growth of democracy.

“Pakistan’s democracy has not evolved over the past 60 years because the generals believed they should intervene in politics and run the country.”

On media restrictions, Mr Zardari said “we will establish a ‘press complaints commission’ similar to that of the United Kingdom and stand up for the democratic rights of citizens to freely establish television and radio stations, subject to the basic legal framework”.

In an emotional tribute to Ms Benazir Bhutto, he said she sacrificed her life for her beliefs and her country. “This was the day of her triumph, the vindication of her long battle for the restoration of democracy. For my country this was a day of celebration.

“But for me and our children, this day is also a day of tears. Democracy has come to Pakistan, but at a terrible, terrible price.”