Islamabad, Nov 02: Pakistan Peoples Party headed by former premier Benazir Bhutto today welcomed the decision by Commonwealth to continue Islamabad`s suspension from the group and said it hoped the international community would pressurise the military regime for an early restoration of democracy. "The people of Pakistan have spoken in favour of the supremacy of the Parliament and rejection of constitutional amendments made by an individual," a PPP spokesman said adding "only Parliament has the right to amend the constitution".
He said "superimposing a constitution crafted by a handful of serving and retired generals to keep themselves in power is an affront to the collective will of the people which the Pakistan Peoples Party can not, indeed will not, accept". Asserting that the majority of the legislators were elected on an anti-Musharraf platfrom he said, despite massive manipulation of the poll process by the military regime, the people of Pakistan voted overwhelmingly for a return to democratic and civilian rule.
Accusing the military regime for taking advantage of the war against terror he said "the international community`s war on terror has been turned by Pakistan`s military junta into its own war against democracy constitution, the parliament and the people". The Commonwealth secretary general Mckinnon yesterday announced that it would continue with its previous position of suspension of Pakistan`s membership.
The Commonwealth`s rationale was based on measures passed prior to the elections `limiting` the free and fair conduct of polls, including the person-specific laws barring Bhutto from running for office, the PPP statement said. Bureau Report