A Commonwealth ministerial committee on Thursday decided to suspend Pakistan from the 53-nation bloc pending the return of the rule of law following the imposition of emergency earlier this month.
"CMAG suspended Pakistan forthwith from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," according to a statement read by Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon.
President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, placing the chief justice under house arrest, detaining lawyers, rights activists and opposition members and curbing press freedoms.
"CMAG agreed that notwithstanding some progress by the Pakistan government since its last meeting, the situation in Pakistan continued to represent a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental values," said the statement.
An ultimatum issued 10 days ago by the 53-state organisation of mostly former British colonies for Musharraf to end emergency rule, step down as army chief and ensuring free and fair elections expired at 1900 GMT. In recent days Musharraf's regime released more than 3,400 people who had been detained under the emergency rule he slapped on the country earlier this month.
Following a visit by US envoy John Negroponte, opposition leader Imran Khan was freed. Over the past 24 hours, the United States and Britain had also expressed measured satisfaction with Musharraf's latest moves, indicating that Pakistan may narrowly avert a second suspension from the Commonwealth.
The release of political opposition figures was described as a "good step" Wednesday by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Speaking before leaving for Uganda, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had welcomed Musharraf's steps "to return Pakistan to normality" including setting a date for legislative elections.
"He (Musharraf) has assured me that he will do his utmost to lift the state of emergency in time for free and fair elections to be held and to give up his military role and responsibilities as soon as possible," Brown said.
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