Now, C’wealth may ban cricket ties with Pak

McKinnon said Pakistan cannot return to the Commonwealth fold till the military regime makes it "absolutely clear" that it would hold elections within a definite timeframe.

He said the Commonwealth group of ministers would meet early May and review among other things the political situation in Pakistan. The group, he said, "may even suggest stronger measures" against the Pervez Musharraf regime.

To a question whether the group of ministers could recommend suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth, McKinnon said "it is entirely upto the ministers to decide".

He, however, expressed the hope that the Pakistani regime would not "wish (the country) to be prevented from playing cricket" with other Commonwealth countries on the issue of return to democracy.

Stating that the Commonwealth group of ministers would meet early May to review the latest situation, he said this group, which would also review the political situation in Pakistan, "may even suggest stronger measures" against the Pervez Musharraf regime.

Asked to specify the steps which could be taken by the group of ministers, the Commonwealth Secretary General said "the ministers may wish to go to Pakistan or invite the Pakistani regime to come to London. There are a number of possibilities."

To a question whether the group of ministers could recommend suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth, McKinnon said "it is entirely upto the ministers to decide and not the Secretary General."

He said he hoped that Pakistani regime would not "wish to be prevented from playing cricket" with other Commonwealth countries on the question of returning to democracy.

The Secretary General said Nigeria was suspended from membership when the military regime there publicly hanged 13 political activists.

On holding of elections in Pakistan by the military regime, McKinnon said "people may disagree with what the government does ….. what the government does is absolutely for the people to respond to it."

Asked how the Commonwealth would view the Indo-Pak relations vis-a-vis Kashmir imbroglio, he said the Commonwealth Secretariat cannot view the problem from the points of view of the two countries.

Stating that the people of Pakistan and India would like the issue to be resolved, he said there was tension on the border and the Commonwealth would not like it to grow into a larger conflict.