ISLAMABAD, May 17: Leaders of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Wednesday expressed the hope that all patriotic and democracy-loving political parties would endorse the Charter of Democracy, signed by former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in London on May 14.

Speaking at a news conference, People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar termed the signing of the Charter of Democracy a historic event and said it was the second most important document after the country’s constitution.

The ARD leaders expressed the hope that all the opposition parties, including the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would sign the charter which, according to them, would ensure ‘Awami Raj’ in the country.

Mr Rabbani said the charter, signed by the heads of the two largest parties, would help maintain sanctity of votes of the people of Pakistan.

He further said the charter would also be helpful in strengthening various national institutions like judiciary, the Election Commission, the accountability bureau and the parliament.

He said the charter clearly spelled out the future civil-military relationships in categorical terms.