The Hindu : International : Pakistan readmitted to Commonwealth

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Sunday, May 23, 2004

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International

Pakistan readmitted to Commonwealth

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, MAY 22. Pakistan has been readmitted to the Commonwealth, five years after it was suspended from the 53-member world body following the coup in 1999 that brought Pervez Musharraf to power overthrowing the democratically-elected Government of Nawaz Sharif.

The decision to lift the suspension, announced after a two-day meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) here this afternoon, had been widely predicted despite the reported reservations of Canada and several African countries over some of the recent actions of the Musharraf Government, notably the deportation of the Opposition leader, Shahbaz Sharif, who was not allowed to enter Pakistan recently.

The consensus that finally emerged, however, was that Pakistan had made enough progress in implementing the "road map" set out by the Commonwealth for the restoration of democracy for it to be taken back.

But a close watch would be kept on further democratic reforms and Islamabad could find itself out in the cold again if it reneges on the assurances it has given with regard to fully implementing the road map.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, emphasised that the process of democratisation in Pakistan would continue to be monitored. In coming months, Gen. Musharraf would be under pressure to stand down as army chief to meet the Commonwealth's demand for a clear separation of powers between the army and the government.

In a statement, CMAG welcomed the progress made by Pakistan in restoring democracy and strengthening democratic institutions, and hoped that the process would continue. The group consists of Foreign Ministers of nine Commonwealth countries including India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Tanzania, Nigeria, the Bahamas, Malta, Samoa and Lesotho.

On previous occasions, India had strongly opposed Pakistan's readmission, insisting on "full restoration of democracy," but today it went along with the consensus in the new spirit of growing friendship between the two countries. In the absence of a new foreign minister, New Delhi was represented at the talks by its acting High Commissioner here, Satyabrata Pal.

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