ISLAMABAD, June 2: The Commonwealth is constantly in contact with the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) to know about the developments on controversial LFO, the correspondence that took place between the organization and the opposition parties’ alliance revealed on Monday.

The Commonwealth foreign ministers in their meeting held in London on May 20 had upheld Pakistan’s exclusion from the group as the government-Opposition talks on the LFO were inconclusive.

The letter sent to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on May 12 by ARD Deputy Information Secretary Munir Ahmed Khan played a major role in the decision to keep Pakistan’s membership suspended.

Syed Sharfuddin, the special adviser of Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth, on May 20 informed Mr Khan about the decision of the organization through a letter.

Earlier, through a letter, Mr Sharfuddin had asked Mr Khan “to let him know of the outcome of the negotiations on the LFO.”

Responding to the request, the ARD secretary sent a letter to the secretary-general, Commonwealth. In his letter, he said: “A few days ago it was requested by the government to restore Commonwealth membership. It is submitted that the ARD has no objection to restore Pakistan’s membership but before deciding on this issue, the honourable countries of Commonwealth must consider that whether the democracy, for which the membership was suspended, has been restored or not.”

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....