PAKISTAN/UGANDA: Pakistan to review Commonwealth ties after suspension

Pakistan says it will review its future association with the Commonwealth after being suspended for not meeting a deadline to end emergency rule. Pakistan said on Friday (November 23) it would review its future association with the Commonwealth after being suspended from the 53-nation group because President Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to end emergency rule. The Commonwealth, mostly comprising of former British colonies, had given Musharraf until Thursday (November 22) to lift the emergency he imposed on November 3. Musharraf is expected to meet another of the Commonwealth's key demands by stepping down as army chief and taking the oath as a civilian president Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told Reuters television that Pakistan deeply regretted the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to suspend Pakistan. "The government of Pakistan deeply regrets the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial meeting to suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The decision does not take into account the objective conditions prevailing in Pakistan. The (CMAG) decision is unreasonable and unjustified. Pakistan will review its association and further cooperation with the organisation," said Sadiq. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) announced the decision in Uganda on Thursday. "CMAG regretted that the Government of Pakistan had failed to implement the necessary measures set out in the CMAG statement of 12 November 2007. Accordingly, consistent with that decision, CMAG has 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 a news conference. Musharraf, a key U.S. ally against Islamist militancy, has been under tremendous international pressure to restore the constitution and to end emergency rule. Analysts believe Musharraf's main motive for resorting to emergency powers was to purge the Supreme Court of judges he feared would annul his October 6 re-election by parliament. "This decision was taken in sorrow, not in anger, and you will see very practical steps that the Commonwealth is determined to take to reach out to Pakistan including the possibility of a CMAG mission to Pakistan. We're all clear that the choices for Pakistan now to make the changes that are in it's interest, nationally and internationally and then to re-enter the Commonwealth as a proud and valued member," added British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. On Thursday a top court packed with Musharraf-friendly judges threw out the last of six legal challenges to his re-election, paving the way for him to serve a second five-year term. He has promised to quit the army to become a civilian leader. While suspension has few immediate practical effects, analysts say it could further isolate Pakistan, discourage foreign investment, and undermine Musharraf at a time when he is juggling political challenges from former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Musharraf allowed Bhutto to return from eight years of self-exile last month, and Sharif, whom he deposed in 1999, is expected back within days, according to aides.

ITN Source | November 23, 2007

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