- News>
- Asia
`Pak unlikely to be admitted to C`wealth until polls are held`
Commonwealth secretary general Don Mckinnon on Thursday said that Pakistan was unlikely to be re-admitted to the commonwealth until the military regime held general elections, even though the `road map` announced by President Pervez Musharraf was a step in the right direction.
Commonwealth secretary general
Don Mckinnon on Thursday said that Pakistan was unlikely to be
re-admitted to the commonwealth until the military regime held
general elections, even though the 'road map' announced by
President Pervez Musharraf was a step in the right
direction.
Addressing a press conference here after meeting
Musharraf, Mckinnon said that going by the standards followed
by the Commonwealth in the past, Pakistan, which was suspended
from the membership of the group after the October, 1999
military coup, could be readmitted only after the completion
of the general elections.
Even though Musharraf's 'road map' was likely to come for
discussions at the Commonwealth ministerial meeting in
September followed by head of the state meeting in October
next, Pakistan was unlikely to be re-admitted until the
completion of the poll process, he said.
He, however, said the road map to restore democracy was
a step in the right direction.
Mckinnon said the poll schedule proved that Musharraf
kept his promise to hold the polls within the three year
deadline set by Pakistan's Supreme Court, and praised the
president for holding local body polls.
On Musharraf's plans to bring in constitutional amendments before the polls, he said the president had assured him that the regime has not planned to make any major changes.
However, Musharraf at the same time said necessary amendments would be made within the limits set by the Supreme Court.
Bureau report
On Musharraf's plans to bring in constitutional amendments before the polls, he said the president had assured him that the regime has not planned to make any major changes.
However, Musharraf at the same time said necessary amendments would be made within the limits set by the Supreme Court.
Bureau report