IRNA � Former Pakistan president and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari says his party wants strong relations with Iran and other Muslims states.

He made the remarks in his speech to a crowd of PPP supporters on the 9th assassination anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in southern Sindh province�s Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

�It was our government that had signed a gas agreement with Iran.�

Asif Zardari urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to complete Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project.

He said that current government has signed gas purchase agreement with Qatar but �we could bring the gas on much cheaper rates if allowed'.�

�Our industry is suffering a lot because of shortage of energy,� he said.

Coming back from an 18-month long self-exile Asif Zardari said that both he and his son, the party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, will contest the 2018 general election.

�I am not coming to the Parliament to topple you; we only intend to teach you certain things, to consult with you on national issues,� Zardari said in reference to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

�We have paid big prices for strong democracy in the country,� he said.

This was Zardari's first major appearance alongside his son and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at a rally in three years.