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Commonwealth suspends Pakistan till the restoration of democracy
KAMPALA: The Commonwealth on Thursday suspended Pakistan from the organisation until the return of democracy and the rule of law, the group's Secretary General said.
A committee of foreign ministers took the decision after Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf failed to meet the Commonwealth's Thursday deadline to lift Emergency rule and step down as Army Chief.
The committee "has suspended Pakistan from councils of the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country,'' Secretary General Don McKinnon told journalists.
''The group expressed disappointment that while there had been some progress, the conditions remain unfulfilled,'' McKinnon said, reading a statement on behalf of the ministers.
''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.''
A committee of foreign ministers took the decision after Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf failed to meet the Commonwealth's Thursday deadline to lift Emergency rule and step down as Army Chief.
The committee "has suspended Pakistan from councils of the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country,'' Secretary General Don McKinnon told journalists.
''The group expressed disappointment that while there had been some progress, the conditions remain unfulfilled,'' McKinnon said, reading a statement on behalf of the ministers.
''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.''
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