By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : Pakistan faces suspension from the Commonwealth for the second time in eight years following the declaration of emergency with Secretary General Don McKinnon calling an extraordinary meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) here Monday.
Foreign ministers from Canada, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Britain and Tanzania are expected to attend.
Pakistan was last suspended from the Commonwealth in 1999, when Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf ousted then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and took over power. It was reinstated to full membership in May 2004 but has remained on the CMAG watch list since.
Hinting at the prospect of Pakistan’s suspension after emergency was declared last week, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in the House of Commons Thursday: “This situation (in Pakistan) also raises important issues for the Commonwealth. We look forward to a meeting of the CMAG next Monday in London, at which the situation in Pakistan is an agenda item”.
Miliband placed four demands on the Musharraf government:
— Implement the necessary conditions to guarantee free and fair elections on schedule in January;
— Release all political prisoners, including members of the judiciary and human rights activists, and pursue energetically reconciliation with the political opposition;
— Honour the president’s commitment to step down as chief of army staff by Nov 15;
— Relax restrictions on the media, including the BBC.
He said: “There is a unanimous view from the international community that democracy and human rights and political freedoms and constitutional rule are the allies of security and stability in Pakistan.
“And there is a unanimous view that President Musharraf has very important responsibilities to fulfil his commitments at this vital time for Pakistan. We are following developments closely and seeking to coordinate our response so that our own vital interests are not damaged.”
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has sought Pakistan’s suspension from the Councils of Commonwealth for violating democratic principles by declaring the emergency.
It said in a statement: “CHRI calls on the Commonwealth to immediately condemn these actions and suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth, while the Commonwealth continues to engage with and support civil society working towards an early return to democracy.
“The imposition of a totally unwarranted state of emergency interference with the judiciary, dismissal, intimidation and detention of members of the Supreme Court and high courts, mass arrests and target of human rights defenders, are aimed at stifling democracy and peaceful dissent.
“These actions run entirely contrary to the fundamental democratic principles of the Commonwealth. As a member, Pakistan is bound to comply with such principles.”