July 6, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 5,1424

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ISLAMABAD July 4: The question of restoration of Pakistan’s Commonwealth membership would be discussed during the forthcoming meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Nigeria.

This was stated by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Mark Justin Lyall Grant during a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Friday.

Earlier, Chaudhry Amir Hussain stressed the need for restoring Pakistan’s Commonwealth membership, saying the country’s plea in this regard was genuine.

He said that minorities in Pakistan were enjoying unprecedented political and social status with women having been given huge representation in the parliament as well as district governments. Besides, he reminded that Pakistan was a front line state in the international coalition against terrorism.

Both agreed that three delegations consisting of British parliamentarians would visit Pakistan at an opportune time. The delegations include; Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Intelligence Select Committee and Lord Chancellor’s Committee.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador in Pakistan Edward Stepanovich Shevehenko also called on the Speaker.

The National Assembly speaker said that Pakistan was ready to accept third-country mediation on the Kashmir dispute.

The Russian envoy acknowledged that Pakistan’s attitude on Kashmir issue was more pragmatic and flexible than that of India. He said that Russian was keen to expand bilateral trade with Pakistan.

The speaker accepted an invitation from Chairman of Russian parliament Duma to visit Russia.

Both agreed that there was tremendous potential for cooperation in fields of IT, oil and gas exploration, economic and trade etc.