Talk sense, or we'll be jailed: Zardari to Sharif

In a thinly veiled reference to another military coup in Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has warned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to understand the gravity of the situation and act wisely, lest either of them has to visit the other in jail.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N chief should adopt a positive attitude and stop criticising the military because the people are already frustrated with political wrangling, The Nation quoted Zardari, as saying in a statement from Nawabshah.

To make his warning clearer, he reminded Nawaz that the electoral majority during former President Farooq Leghari's tenure in 1996 could not save democracy.

"It takes years to build democracy, but seconds to ravage it," Zardari pointed out.

Asking the PML-N chief to act wisely, Zardari said: "I hope such a time would not come that he (Nawaz) has to visit my jail cell or I have to visit him in jail".

"Rather than criticising the government, Nawaz Sharif and other politicians should help the calamity-stricken in Punjab as well as Sindh," he stated, adding that "it was not the time to indulge in political gimmicks".

Zardari also said that the Pakistan People's Party would continue following the 'policy of reconciliation'.

"We should set aside differences and work together for the people of this country. The country is passing through a critical phase and unity is the key to countering these challenges," he said.