Commonwealth set forth deadline for Musharraf

It asked Musharraf step down as Chief of Army Staff, immediately release political party leaders, activists, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists detained after the proclamation of Emergency, remove all curbs on private media broadcasts and restrictions on the press and create conditions for holding free and fair elections in accordance with the Constitution.

8220;CMAG agreed that at its next meeting in Kampala in Uganda on November 22 on the eve of CHOGM, if, after review of progress, Pakistan has failed to implement these necessary measures, it will suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth,8221; Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon told reporters.

But within minutes of the statement, the Pakistani High Commission in London rejected the demand saying his country cannot act in accordance with deadlines 8220;imposed from outside8221; and will follow its own road map for the transition to democracy.

8220;Decisions regarding the transition will be taken in accordance with Pakistan8217;s national interests and requirements, not deadlines imposed from outside,8221; the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement.

Asked whether CMAG expected Pakistan to implement all the measures, Michael Frendo, Foreign Minister of Malta who chaired the meeting said, 8220;The message is very clear. There are a number of measures, which needs to be implemented.

8220;There is a deadline 8211; Nov 22. If Pakistan does not implement them, it will be suspended from the Councils of Commonwealth and it will not be able to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that begins in Kampala for three days from November 23.8221;

Replying to a question, Don McKinnon said as per his promise, Musharraf was to shed his military uniform by November 15. 8220;Now literally he gets a little breathing time,8221; he said.

The nearly five-hour long meeting was attended by Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Vice Chairman, Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, Foreign Affairs Minister of Lesotho, Rohitha Bogollagama and Foreign Affairs Minister of Sir Lanka among others.

According to a statement issued at the end of the meeting, CMAG condemned the abrogation of the Constitution of Pakistan through a Provisional Constitutional Order and the proclamation of emergency, which it noted had been undertaken outside the provisions of the Constitution.

The Group expressed its grave concern over the dismissal of the Chief Justice and other judges and their placement under house arrest, which it deemed to constitute a serious breach of the Harare Commonwealth principle of independence of the judiciary and the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles.

The Group said the crackdown on civil society members, the suspension of all private media broadcasts and restrictions on the press also amounted to violation of Commonwealth fundamental values of freedom of expression and human rights.

It noted with alarm the recent amendment to the Army Act, which retrospectively gives military courts the right to try civilians on charges of 8216;anti-national8217; activities and believed this to be a further derogation of constitutionality and rule of law.

It welcomed the announcement by Musharraf that parliamentary elections would be held before January 9, 2008 but stressed that such elections would not be credible unless the state of Emergency is removed and constitutional rights of the people, political parties and independence of the judiciary are restored.

CMAG also noted with concern that the date on which President Musharraf had promised to step down as Chief of Army Staff, November 15, 2007, had again been put into doubt by his recent statements, despite the repeated assurances previously given on this issue.

The Group agreed that these developments seriously violated the Commonwealth8217;s fundamental political values.

CMAG urged Pakistan to work with the Commonwealth and other international partners in ensuring that a credible environment and process is rapidly put in place for the holding of parliamentary elections.

In acknowledging the dangers of instability in the country, CMAG called on all in Pakistan to refrain from violence, respect human rights and help create a conducive environment in which credible elections could take place.