LAHORE, Aug 4: Almost all opposition political parties on Wednesday resolved to develop a political code of ethics binding them to work for strengthening a democratic culture and political process as a fundamental right of the people.

The consensus emerged at a seminar sponsored by the Pakistan People's Party human rights committee. Senior leaders from the PPP, the PML-N, the Awami National Party and the Tehrik-i-Insaaf, besides the Lahore High Court Bar Association, were present.

The proposal of a political code of ethics was mooted by PPP secretary-general Jahangir Badr and PML-N Punjab President Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, and was readily accepted by the other opposition parties.

Besides, TIP chief Imran Khan, ANP secretary-general Ehsan Wyne, PPP vice-chairperson Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, PPP MNA from Sindh Fauzia Wahab, PML-N MNA Maimoona Hashmi, PPP Senator Sajjad Bokhari and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's Asma Jahangir spoke at the well-attended maiden seminar of the committee, which was chaired by Senator Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, its co-chairperson along with MNA Fauzia Wahab.

Salient features of the code, as spelled out by the leaders in their hard hitting speeches, were that they would democratize their own organizations, pave the way for political tolerance, and safeguard national and constitutional institutions.

They also pledged not to look towards undemocratic forces while in opposition, involve the people in formulating their political and economic policies, restore the sanctity of the ballot paper, and respect the collective wisdom of people that included their vote.

Some of the speakers talked of a mass movement, saying the regime had driven the opposition to a point where they were left with no choice other than making an appeal to the people to take to streets.

Yousaf Raza Gillani and Zulfiqar Khosa also tendered unqualified apology to the people for the mistakes of the past and assured them that they would now stand by democratic forces, liberal and progressive organizations and work in unison with them for the well being of the masses and protection of state institutions.

A resolution adopted at the seminar called for the withdrawal of the army rule and return of power to their 'real masters' (the people), who had the inalienable right to govern through their chosen representatives.

It said the frequent disruption of democratic process by undemocratic forces had beaten the country hollow and pushed it to the brinks of a political and economic disaster.

As for the seminar's subject of human rights' violation and political victimization, they said the undemocratic rulers had shown contempt for political process and organizations as well as the constitution, which they violated with impunity.

They alleged that the military governments had always used political turncoat to serve their interests. The clergy, they said, also supported the regimes and the passage of the 17th amendment to the constitution was a glaring example of the politico-religious elements betraying a political cause.

The leaders said the Musharraf government had followed the footprints of all the dictators of the past by attempting to subdue political parties. "Those accepting have been rewarded with cabinet membership regardless of the fact that they are facing trial for corruption charges while the non-conformists subjected to intimidation."

They demanded the release of Asif Ali Zardari and return of Benazir Bhutto and the Sharifs to home to play their due political role. They said the government had kept Mr Zardari in jail for the last eight years, though no charges against him in 16 to 17 cases could be substantiated.

They said Mr Zardari had already served a term, which was now more than life imprisonment. Similarly, they said, Ms Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were being denied the right to return to their home.

Imran Khan pleaded for rule of law and an independent judicial system. He said the judiciary was doing 'selective justice' and was keeping many institutions out of its jurisdiction in violation of the constitution. He demanded of the political parties to strike an agreement that they would empower the judiciary and respect rule of law.

ANP secretary-general Ehsan Wyne said the country was heading towards a major disaster in the wake of operation in Balochistan. HRCP's Asma Jahangir wanted the political parties to give a solemn undertaking that they would neither invite an army intervention nor associate political turncoats as and when they came to power.

Almost all the speakers rejected Shaukat Aziz as the future prime minister. They said Mr Aziz was not a Pakistani and was here to serve certain foreign powers.