LAHORE - Pakistans own institutions caused greater damage to the Kashmir cause than done by any other country, former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif alleged here on Friday. I cant elaborate on this. This is only 10 per cent of what I know about it, he said while addressing a reference for the slain journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, organized by the South Asia Free Media Association at its Shadman Colony office. In his 35-minute address, Mr Sharif said in an obvious reference to the armed forces that they should not overstep their domain. In case they did, everybody would be duty-bound to stop them. He said his party could even think of launching a long march in such an eventuality. He said in the 21st century no institution was a 'sacred cow, nor anyone should try to be. In case anyone did, well not let them (be so). They will have to change their mindset. He made a specific reference to criticism on the armed forces by people from various walks of life. When so many hands are heading towards your collar, you must look into your conduct. Had you done so in the past, the ugly situation in sight at present would not been there. Critical of the military interventions in the past, the former prime minister said these unconstitutional steps had weakened democracy. Had democracy been allowed to work uninterrupted, he believed, there would have been no terrorism and extremism in the country. To substantiate his argument, he cited the example of neighbouring India, where the number of Muslims was more than in Pakistan but there was no monster of terrorism seen there. He said what he was saying would enhance the image and performance of the armed forces. The PML-N chief regretted that President Zardari failed to adhere to the Charter of Democracy. Had the president stood by the CoD, he would not have had to take so many 'heterogeneous elements in the coalition to maintain his majority in the National assembly. According to Mr Sharif, President Zardari would never find a more sincere ally than the PML-N to strengthen democracy and ward off military interventions. He was critical of the honour President Zardari gave Gen Musharraf even when he was quitting. He recalled that the president had proposed that Gen Musharraf should be given indemnity for all his policies and actions during his nine-year rule. When the president was reminded that the question of indemnity was not in consonance with the pledges made in the CoD, he said I have made some commitments with some relevant powers at home and abroad. This, the PML-N leader said, created a gulf between the two parties. He demanded that a commission should be set up on the issue of Abbottabad episode and the Karachi naval base attack by militants and those found guilty must be held accountable. SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, noted journalists Ahmed Rashid, Mujibur Rehman Shami, Economist Dr Akmal Husain, Jungoo Mohsin and Hina Jilani were also among the speakers.