LONDON, May 22: Pakistan, suspended from the Commonwealth after the 1999 military takeover that brought General Pervez Musharraf to power, was welcomed back into the 53-nation body on Saturday with a hope that it will stick firmly on the road to true democracy.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) - a nine-nation committee of foreign ministers that enforces the Commonwealth's core political principles - found that Pakistan has been making good on pledges to restore democratic government.

"The Group welcomed the progress made in restoring democracy and rebuilding democratic institutions in Pakistan ... and decided therefore that Pakistan should no longer remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth," said Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon.

"However, CMAG noted continuing concern in regard to the strengthening of the democratic process in Pakistan," said McKinnon, reading a statement to reporters after a two-day meeting in London.

"The group further hoped that the process of democratisation would be consolidated in such a way as to encourage a broader embrace of the Harare principles," he said, referring to the Commonwealth's democracy credo.

"CMAG agreed to remain seized of the situation by retaining Pakistan on its agenda," McKinnon said, adding that the group would review Pakistan again at its next meeting in September on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He said Pakistan had to fully implement amendments to its constitution "in letter and in spirit", including the "the issue of the separation of the offices of the president and chief of army staff".

The decision was seen as a boost for Pakistan, which found itself on the frontline of the so-called "war on terrorism" after the Sept 11 attacks in the United States in 2001 and the ensuing war in Afghanistan.

Britain was among the Commonwealth members that wanted Pakistan's suspension lifted because of its support for the war on terrorism.

"Every minister here is well aware of what's happening in the world generally ... but all ministers here are very much aware that their role in CMAG is to make judgments on Pakistan in relation to its restoration of democracy - not its geostrategic or political position," he said.

"The restoration of democracy, the rebuilding of democratic institutions - it is on those issues that they have been dwelling."

Pakistan's high commissioner to London, Maleeha Lodhi, said she was confident Musharraf would step down as head of the army by the end of the year.

"Let's remember he has stood by every commitment he has made, that is his track record... he will abide by that," she said.

"People want to reward the general Musharraf for the role that he's playing as a key ally of the international community in combating terrorism," former prime minister Benazir Bhutto told BBC radio earlier Saturday.

"I'd like to see Pakistan readmitted by the Commonwealth - but not under a military dictator," said Ms Benazir, who lives in exile in London.-AFP/Reuters

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