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Pakistan expresses displeasure on CMAG announcement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Saturday expressed its displeasure over the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in which they refused to allow membership of Pakistan to Commonwealth till transfer of power.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the statement issued by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London on Friday as displaying an incomplete understanding of the political processes and the steady transition to democracy in Pakistan in accordance with the roadmap announced on 14 August 2001.

“The CMAG appears to have dwelt on non-issues and has not made the correct assessment of the situation,” the spokesman remarked.

The membership of Pakistan was suspended when President General Pervez Musharraf took over power from the civilian government on October 12, 1999. At present Pakistan is just observer in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth foreign ministers have decided to maintain Pakistan's suspension from the organization despite the recent elections to restore civilian rule.

An announcement by Secretary-General Don McKinnon after the meeting of CMAG however, welcomed the elections, but pointed to the "limiting" effect of measures introduced by President Musharraf prior to the polls.

"CMAG agreed to maintain the status quo on Pakistan's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending greater clarity and an assessment of the role and functioning of democratic institutions," he told a news conference in London yesterday.

Observers from the Commonwealth had ruled that the actual vote was credible and democratic, but had misgivings about curbs on the parties during the campaign.

Nonetheless, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer commended the October elections as a very important step by Pakistan back down the path of democracy.

It had been, he said, "an election that to a significant extent captured public opinion in Pakistan and one of the most democratic elections Pakistan has had".

The polls produced a hung parliament. The Commonwealth's own observers said they were transparent for the most part but they also had concerns.

President Musharraf also wants to give the military a greater role in political affairs through the creation of a national security council.

It remains to be seen how the new, mixed military-civilian national security council works in practice.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however claimed that the roadmap to democracy that was announced by President Musharraf “is fully implemented.


	Pakistan expresses displeasure on CMAG announcement ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Saturday expressed its displeasure over the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in which they refused to allow membership of Pakistan to Commonwealth till transfer of power. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the statement issued by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London on Friday as displaying an incomplete understanding of the political processes and the steady transition to democracy in Pakistan in accordance with the roadmap announced on 14 August 2001. “The CMAG appears to have dwelt on non-issues and has not made the correct assessment of the situation,” the spokesman remarked. The membership of Pakistan was suspended when President General Pervez Musharraf took over power from the civilian government on October 12, 1999. At present Pakistan is just observer in the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth foreign ministers have decided to maintain Pakistan's suspension from the organization despite the recent elections to restore civilian rule. An announcement by Secretary-General Don McKinnon after the meeting of CMAG however, welcomed the elections, but pointed to the "limiting" effect of measures introduced by President Musharraf prior to the polls. "CMAG agreed to maintain the status quo on Pakistan's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending greater clarity and an assessment of the role and functioning of democratic institutions," he told a news conference in London yesterday. Observers from the Commonwealth had ruled that the actual vote was credible and democratic, but had misgivings about curbs on the parties during the campaign. Nonetheless, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer commended the October elections as a very important step by Pakistan back down the path of democracy. It had been, he said, "an election that to a significant extent captured public opinion in Pakistan and one of the most democratic elections Pakistan has had". The polls produced a hung parliament. The Commonwealth's own observers said they were transparent for the most part but they also had concerns. President Musharraf also wants to give the military a greater role in political affairs through the creation of a national security council. It remains to be seen how the new, mixed military-civilian national security council works in practice. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however claimed that the roadmap to democracy that was announced by President Musharraf “is fully implemented.
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