Military hardliners called me a 'security threat' for promoting peace in South Asia and for supporting a broad-based government in Afghanistan.

The government I led gave ordinary people peace, security, dignity, and opportunity to progress.

The next few months are critical to Pakistan's future direction as a democratic state committed to promoting peace, fighting terrorism and working for social justice.

The military wants a system that protects its policies and privileges.

Democracy is necessary to peace and to undermining the forces of terrorism.

I seek to lead a democratic Pakistan which is free from the yoke of military dictatorship and that will cease to be a haven, the very petri dish of international terrorism.