ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Monday asked Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif to hold dialogue with opposition but there should not be any prior conditions.

Addressing the National Constitutional Convention held at the National Assembly Hall in the federal capital in connection with Golden Jubilee celebrations of the 1973 Constitution, he said the opposition would have to come to the premier for dialogue “because he is the prime minister”.

Stressing unity, the former president said: “We can drive country out of any crisis by staying united”. He hoped that Pakistan, which is currently facing worst political and economic crisis, would be put on the track of development and “we will do it”.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Raja Parvez Ashraf welcomed the participants, including Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to the convention. He said the month-long festivities had been organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Constitution, aimed at highlighting the importance of the Constitution at every level of society.

The Convention passed a resolution pledging to protect and defend the constitution of Pakistan in letter and spirit. The resolution moved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon all state organs to ensure that the constitution of 1973 was fully implemented and that the rights and interests of the people of Pakistan were protected and safeguarded.