October 2, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The Commonwealth’s decision to extend suspension of Pakistan’s membership was largely influenced by a personal briefing given by Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan during his recent London visit, sources told Dawn here on Wednesday.

Sources said the late chairman of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the alliance’s deputy information secretary Munir Ahmed Khan had held a meeting with three senior officials of the Commonwealth in London on Sept 5 to apprise them of the state of democracy in the country.

The Commonwealth team comprised of acting general secretary and director of the political affairs division Mathhew E. K. Neuhas, Jeremy Clarke Watson and Ms Shehla.

The ARD team briefed the Commonwealth officials on the ongoing talks between the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on the LFO issue. Sources said the Nawabzada had told the Commonwealth team that the parliament was not functioning independently in Pakistan and that the power transfer from military to civil administration had not taken place.