| Pakistan re-admitted in Commonwealth. |
|
Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth on November 22 last year, with the organisation saying that conditions under Musharraf were in violation of its fundamental values. Musharraf had declared a state of emergency on November 3, placing the chief justice under house arrest, detaining lawyers, rights activists and opposition members and curbing press freedoms. Suspended following Musharraf's coup Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim, acting chairperson of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group which is monitoring the issue, said last month that Pakistan had made requested changes to its judiciary and legislation. Since the suspension - the second in Pakistan's history - the country has gone through a democratic transition. A new government took power following February 18 elections in which Musharraf's allies were trounced. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group brings together nine member countries elected to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values. The Commonwealth brings together some 53 nations, almost all of which were former British colonies - around a third of the world's countries and a quarter of the world's population. Suspension leads to a ban on attending the organisation's meetings, taking part in the Commonwealth Games and a cut in support from other member states on governance issues. Barring the embarrassment of being cut out of a voluntary organisation, a frozen membership has little diplomatic significance, but can often be accompanied by economic sanctions if prolonged. Pakistan was suspended before following Musharraf's 1999 coup and brought back in the fold in 2004 after Musharraf vowed to step down as army chief.                |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Login
