Commonwealth suspends Pakistan

Acting tough, the Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency and step down as army chief.

"The Commonwealth foreign ministers suspended Pakistan forthwith from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon told media persons after an extended late night sitting.

The 53-member organisation had earlier suspended Pakistan in 1999 after a bloodless coup by General Musharraf, ousting the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but was readmitted in 2004 after the Commonwealth recognised progress on the democracy front.

Notwithstanding 'some progress' by the government since CMAG's last meeting on November 12, when an ultimatum was issued to Islamabad, the situation in Pakistan 'continued to represent a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental values,' McKinnon said.

"The state of emergency had not been lifted. The constitution and the independence of the judiciary not restored and fundamental rights and the rule of law remain curtailed," McKinnon said.

However, the group said it would 'review the progress following the conduct of scheduled parliamentary elections in January 2008' and affirmed 'its strong commitment to remain engaged with Pakistan' to assist the return to democracy in that country.

A group of Commonwealth foreign affairs ministers may visit the country next year.

Though the CMAG was reported to be divided on the issue, McKinnon said it had reached the decision by consensus. Pakistan will now be banned from attending the organisation's meetings and taking part in the Commonwealth Games.

Though, in diplomatic terms, it has little impact, Pakistan had expressed its keen desire to be taken back after it was suspended the last time.

The Commonwealth's decision isolating Pakistan came despite a last minute appeal by its caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro to defer a decision saying the general election is being held as scheduled and Musharraf has given a commitment to doff uniform.

Also, Pakistan Supreme Court packed with Musharraf's hand-picked judges on Thursday threw out the final legal challenge to his re-election in uniform. Musharraf has pledged to take oath as a civilian President and recently released over 5,000 people detained after he imposed a state of emergency on November three.

But McKinnon, whose eight-year term as Secretary General is about to end, said the group was disappointed and though there had been some progress like the release of detainees, Commonwealth's conditions had not been fulfilled.

Michael Frendo, Malta's foreign minister who chaired the committee's meeting, said the decision was taken 'with a heavy heart.' 

Endorsing Pakistan's suspension, Britain said it was done more in sorrow than in anger and was aimed at upholding the values of Commonwealth.

"It is very clear that this isn't being done to 'punish Pakistan.' It is being done to uphold the values of the Commonwealth and to say to Pakistan: We want to welcome you back as a full member as soon as you restore those basic principles of democracy and the rule of law," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.