ISLAMABAD - FORMER Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif met president-elect Asif Ali Zardari on Monday to congratulate him on his election victory and pledge support in tackling the country's problems, officials said.

Mr Sharif led a delegation of top leaders of his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party at the meeting held at Prime Minister's House.

'Mr Sharif's basic aim was to personally extend felicitations to Zardari on his election as president,' party spokesman Siddiqul Farooq said.

'He also assured support to Zardari in strengthening the democratic set up in the country,' Mr Farooq said, after the meeting which lasted about an hour and was described as 'cordial'.

Mr Zardari is under pressure from the opposition to reverse controversial constitutional changes made by Pervez Musharraf, which give him the right to dismiss parliament, as well as make key military and judicial appointments.

Mr Sharif's party has already demanded that Mr Zardari, who will be sworn in as president on Tuesday, resign as co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which won general elections in February.

Mr Sharif quit the country's coalition government late last month over differences with Mr Zardari on the reinstatement of judges sacked by former president Musharraf last year.

The split came one week after Mr Musharraf resigned under threat of impeachment.

Mr Sharif's close aide and former minister Ahsan Iqbal said Mr Zardari expressed his desire that the former premier rejoin the government but he declined to say if his party would continue to play the role of a constructive opposition.

'We are in the opposition but we don't want to weaken the system,' Mr Iqbal said. 'We will play a positive role in helping the government steer the country out of economic crisis and extremism and terrorism,' he added.

Mr Sharif made the visit on Monday because he will be unable to attend Mr Zardari's inauguration ceremony as he is travelling to London to visit his wife who recently underwent back surgery there.

He will instead be represented by his brother, Mr Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province. -- AFP