Defer decision on suspension: Pak to Commonwealth

Pakistan has asked the Commonwealth to defer a decision on suspending it from the grouping over the state of emergency in the country, saying the general election is being held as scheduled and President Pervez Musharraf has given a commitment to doff uniform.

In a letter written to heads of governments of the countries that are members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, caretaker prime minister Mohammedmian Soomro has said the political situation in Pakistan was returning to normalcy.

The CMAG, which comprises foreign ministers of nine countries including Britain, has told Musharraf that Pakistan will be suspended from the Commonwealth if he does not end the emergency, shed his uniform, and free jailed activists by November 22.

The Commonwealth foreign ministers' meeting is being held at Kampala in Uganda and the CMAG's decision on whether to suspend Pakistan will be known by Thursday.

Pakistan has said the CMAG should have a short postponement of its decision and send a delegation to Pakistan to assess the situation in the country, foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.