ISLAMABAD, May 19: After the recent ratification of the EU- Pakistan trade pact and clearance to join the Asean Regional Forum, Pakistan now seems likely to get re-admitted to the Commonwealth with some reservations, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.
The nine-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (COMAG) is expected to take up this question at its meeting in London on Friday. Last year the three countries that opposed restoration of Pakistan's membership were India, Nigeria and Samoa.
However, Pakistani diplomats claim that they now have "reasonably positive feedback" from all the COMAG members including Bahamas, Canada, Lesotho, Malta, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
While officials in Islamabad expressed hope about Pakistan's re- entry into the Commonwealth, some Western and European diplomats cautioned that Pakistan's democratic credentials were likely to come into question again.
Some diplomats from the Commonwealth countries have expressed serious concern about the violation of rule of law and human rights. They particularly referred to the case of PML(N) leader Javed Hashmi and the deportation of Shahbaz Sharif against the court order.
Privately, some diplomats from key Commonwealth countries have expressed disappointment over the handling of Shahbaz Sharif return to Pakistan. "Such a step undermines the government position and defies the official claim of strengthening democratic institutions," they note.
Another concern has been the President Musharraf's uniform issue and subtle hints that there may be some re-thinking on that count. Amid calls from Pakistan's opposition leaders not to lift the suspension because of the "sham democracy" and the government's disrespect for fundamental rights, the Commonwealth would be under pressure, some insiders say.
However, those optimistic about Pakistan's re-entry believe that COMAG would allow despite these reservations because of other vital considerations. "Other aspects such as economic and strategic concerns are also factored in when such a decision is made," remarked one Commonwealth watcher.
"Elections were held in 2002, residual constitutional issues were resolved last year, the LFO is behind us, the Commonwealth should be in a position to restore our membership without any difficulty. This is the right thing to do," was the measured response from Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan on this question when contacted by Dawn on Wednesday.
The Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon also hinted last month that Pakistan might finally get the green light because of "productive changes" in the country.
Pakistan was suspended from the 53-nation group following the October 1999 coup that brought to power President Gen Pervez Musharraf and overthrew the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
