ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has suggested to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto that their parties should sign a code of conduct aimed at starting a new democratic era in Pakistan.

In a statement issued here on Friday, PML-N Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooque said Mr Sharif had discussed the proposal during a telephone call he had made to congratulate Ms Bhutto on the release of her husband Asif Ali Zardari.

He said the agreed code of conduct would then be presented to other parties in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy for consideration. The PML-N chief told the PPP leader that both parties as major democratic parties shared a responsibility to steer the nation out of the present morass, and the lay foundation for a new democratic culture based on mutual respect and tolerance.

Both parties should develop consensus on fundamental issues like the framework for fair and free elections in the country so that results were accepted by all and the party in power could complete its tenure while opposition enjoyed its constitutional rights.

"We should also agree on a package of reforms to ensure supremacy of constitution and parliament, independence of judiciary, strengthening of democratic institutions and delivery of good governance to the people. Likewise, we should not accept each other's deserters into our folds to end the turncoat politics," Mr Sharif suggested.

The PML-N leader informed her that he was constituting a two-member committee comprising party Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq and Chief Coordinator Ahsan Iqbal to discuss the package with the PPP leadership which, if both parties agreed, could be finalized before Dec 31. Mr Farooque said that Ms Bhutto had agreed to the proposal and promised to designate a two-member committee to discuss it with the PML-N.