Abuja, Dec 06: Pakistan's efforts to get its suspension from Commonwealth revoked failed with the 54-member grouping holding that no progress has been made for restoration of full parliamentary democracy in the country. "The issue of Pakistan's suspension and re-entry into CHOGM should not be seen as a bilateral issue. It was a collective decision of the CHOGM," said Yashwant Sinha, Union External Affairs Minister.

Pakistan was suspended in 1999 after a coup led by General Pervez Musharraf.

The 13th meeting of the heads of states of Commonwealth nations is being held in Nigeria.

The summit's opening was dominated by Zimbabwe. On one side of the table there were Western nations who support sanctions on President Robert Mugabe for human rights abuses on the other African countries who want flexibility. India has been neutral.
"India is of the view that the Zimbabwan issue should not be allowed to divide the CHOGM on ethnic lines," said Sinha.
Commonwealth leaders hope the Zimbabwe question will not overshadow the debate on other equally vital issues like world trade, terrorism and AIDS. Bureau Report