C’wealth defends Pak suspension
KAMPALA: The Commonwealth on Friday said Pakistan’s suspension from the organisation and was justified and would stand until democracy was restored.
“We still believe that the democratic institution is best to deal with these issues, rather than any kind of unilateral type leadership situation,” said Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon. “This wasn’t a desire to heap retribution on Pakistan, this was a determination to live up to our principles.” British PM Gordon Brown said on Friday: “Pakistan has got to end the state of emergency ... is suspended until ... free and fair elections take place and all conditions are met.”
An ultimatum set by the Commonwealth for Musharraf to step down as army chief, free judges and opposition supporters, and lift curbs on the media expired on Thursday. Late on Thursday, a special ministerial group harshly criticised President General Pervez Musharraf for his three-week-old state of emergency and suspended Pakistan’s membership. agencies
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