24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

RAWALPINDI, May 23: Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday said Commonwealth has not imposed any condition on Pakistan for restoring its membership.

Talking to reporters here, the minister welcomed Commonwealth's decision to restore the membership of Pakistan. He said it was an appreciable step as both the Commonwealth and Pakistan needed it.

He said the remarks made by the secretary-general of Commonwealth were his personal thinking. Elections of the national and provincial assemblies, prime minister and president and induction of women in elected bodies showed that Pakistan was a democratic country, he said adding that media in Pakistan enjoyed unprecedented freedom.

He said some Commonwealth member states, which commented on the situation in Pakistan, should first look at the state of affairs in their own countries. The minister hoped that those countries would refrain from commenting on Pakistan.

Mr Ahmed said no step would be taken contrary to the 17th constitutional amendment and every thing would be done within the ambit of the Constitution. In reply to a question he denied any deal between the government and Pakistan People's Party which, he said, disgraced the country in front of the international community.

Earlier speaking at a public meeting held at Kanak Mandi, he said Pakistan was the fortress of Islam and came into being to stand as a prosperous and developed nation. The minister assured the residents that civic problems of the area would be resolved.

He said efforts would be made to bring water from Ghazi Barotha dam to meet water needs of the city. Mr Ahmed said new hospitals would be built and the Cantonment Board Hospital would be renovated. More schools and colleges would be opened and furniture and laboratory equipment would be provided. -APP