ABUJA, Dec 6: The Commonwealth is unlikely to re-admit Pakistan until President Pervez Musharraf gives up his military title and his powers to sack parliament, the group’s secretary general said on Saturday.“Both these issues are in contravention of Pakistan’s constitution,” said Don McKinnon, explaining a decision by a Commonwealth summit in Abuja, Nigeria, to ratify Pakistan’s exclusion due to democratic shortcomings. Some Western members are keen to readmit Pakistan because of its cooperation in the US-led “war on terrorism”.

Mr McKinnon told reporters a special ministerial committee dealing with Pakistan had concluded on Thursday that despite some progress, further reforms were needed before re-entry.

“These issues are still outstanding - the fact that President Musharraf is also the general of the army and secondly the authority that he gave himself to dismiss parliament and the government,” Mr McKinnon said.

“It really would be more appropriate to see a resolution on those outstanding issues within parliament, within the government structures, in order for them (the Common-wealth ministers) to make a further judgment on the issue.”

—Reuters