NEW YORK, July 24: Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari left here for London on Saturday night to discuss with members of his family various options he has been given by his doctors regarding his cardiac condition.

He is expected to return next week to undergo more tests at a New York Hospital and is likely to stay here for about eight weeks.

Meanwhile, Mr Zardari told Dawn in an interview that survival of ‘tomorrow’s Pakistan’ was predicated on restoration of democracy and the rule of law.

He stressed that the political degeneration in Pakistan and breakdown of civil society was everybody’s problem and only the forces of democracy could help resolve that situation.

Mr Zardari said that by undermining the moderate forces Gen Pervez Musharraf had created a vacuum and consequently strengthened the fundamentalists.

“When there is a problem, then everybody has to be a player and be part of the solution,” he added. “I think people who are standing alone will be part of the problem — we (democratic forces) will be part of the solution.”

The return of democracy in Pakistan was only a question of time, Mr Zardari said. “Coming into governance is not my goal: democracy is my goal and in that (democracy) we see the survival of tomorrow’s Pakistan”.

The PPP, he said, had the support of the majority of Pakistani people. “In spite of all the machinations of the powers-that-be, we have the majority in parliament.”

Asked about defections and divisions in the PPP, Mr Zardari said that these things did happen and must be taken in stride. “They i.e. the powers-that-be are always on a shopping spree”. But now, he said, the numbers game was over. “We are in touch with MNAs and MPAs who are loyal to the party”, he added.

Asked when PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and he would return to Pakistan, he said he could not determine the exact timeframe. “Time is for them (powers-that-be?) to decide, not for Ms Bhutto or me; it is a weakness for them not for us.”

President Zia’s claim of being ‘very powerful’ did not stand the test of time, Mr Zardari said. Likewise, he added, “this guy will also go into the dustbin of history”.

Asked whether he or Ms Bhutto had ever talked to President Musharraf directly, Mr Zardari retorted: Why should we talk to Gen Musharraf directly when they are in touch with our representatives.

“We were the largest party ... we should have been allowed to play our role and nominate our prime minister. But what happened is there for everyone to see.”

“We have clear conscience and I have to stand on my own two feet. The bar of the time; not important; the fight is important”, he said.