The luncheon meeting was hosted by Asif Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and was attended by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, chairman of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group), and Asfandyar Wali of the Awami National Party.

Sharif said the meeting was attended by 171 members of the newly elected National Assembly, approaching the two-thirds majority needed to pass a motion to amend the Constitution, which would also require Senate approval.

"We are fighting dictatorship. We must defeat dictatorship. Democracy must win," Sharif said.

He called upon the Election Commission to formally announce the results of the Feb. 18 general election and summon the National Assembly into session as early as possible.

Zardari said in his welcome speech at the meeting that the PPP does not seek to take revenge on any person but to change the system.

"We are the most aggrieved party at the hands of the establishment. We want to change the system. We do not want to avenge a person," he said.

"Bring power to the parliament. It is a great opportunity. Come with me. Stand with me," he said while addressing the leaders and members of three coalition parties.

Zardari started his speech by paying tribute to Bhutto, who was assassinated last December, and vowed to champion the goals set forth by her in her speeches and manifesto.

He said he was a dreamer and was visualizing a situation whereby the future prime minister of Pakistan would set feet on foreign soil with he himself, Sharif and Wali walking behind.

"Imagine the message of strength about the prime minister that this would convey," he said.

Sharif renewed his call for President Pervez Musharraf to quit.

"The whole nation is watching us. The man sitting next to this building must also be watching," he said, alluding to Musharraf in the Presidency, located a few hundreds meters away. "The nation has given a clear message."

Wali remarked in his speech that it is the responsibility of the newly elected members of the National Assembly to "ensure that we reach a goal for which our forefathers struggled."

"The people of Pakistan have given their verdict. Now it is our responsibility to translate them into reality," he said.