LONDON, Nov 1: The Commonwealth has decided to uphold the suspension of Pakistan from the councils of the group despite the October elections.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Commonwealth foreign ministers here on Friday to discuss whether or not to readmit Pakistan.

The meeting requested the Commonwealth Secretary-General to remain fully engaged in monitoring the development of democratic processes and institutions in Pakistan. It agreed that in accordance with the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, the Secretary-General should continue to offer and make available such advice, training and other forms of technical assistance in support of processes and institutions in Pakistan as might be required for the development of democracy.

The Group noted the conclusions and recommendations of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) Report, including its assessment that certain measures introduced in the period preceding the elections have had a limiting effect on the process of restoring democracy.

The meeting called upon the Government of Pakistan to take necessary steps to implement the recommendations of the COG Report related to institutional and procedural issues. The Group expressed concern over the continued promulgation of new laws, even after the elections, which follow extra-constitutional measures introduced through the Legal Framework Order 2002.

The meeting noted that the group look forward to the early formation of a democratic government with full executive powers and the establishment of elected legislatures with full constitutional and legislative authority. Pakistan was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth — the group’s main decision-making bodies — when President Pervez Musharraf took over in 1999.