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| 24 May 2004 | Monday | 04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
C'wealth set no condition, says Jamali
ISLAMABAD, May 23: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Sunday the Commonwealth had restored Pakistan's suspended membership without any condition.
Talking to reporters at the inauguration of the annual Urs of Hazrat Syed Abdul Latif (Bari Imam) outside Islamabad, Mr Jamali said Saturday's decision by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) of the 53-nation body had not linked the issue of President Pervez Musharraf's uniform with the restoration of Pakistan's membership.
"The Commonwealth did not ask President Musharraf to put off his uniform for the restoration of Pakistan's membership," he said about the decision by the nine-nation CMAG, which has said it would review the matter in September.
Mr Jamali termed the CMAG decision a "good step" towards the flourishing of democracy and the country's development. Responding to a question about PPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim's letter to the Commonwealth pleading against the readmission, the prime minister said although the letter was directly against President Musharraf, it could be harmful for the country's interests as well.
Answering a question regarding the postponed Pakistan-India talks on nuclear confidence-building measures, he said the process would be resumed after the establishment of the new Indian government.
"Newly-elected Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked us to give (him) some time so that he could establish his government and then come to the table for talks," he said.
Mr Jamali expressed his satisfaction at the new Indian government's desire to resume the peace process between the two countries. Hours before his departure for Saudi Arabia for a five-day visit, he declined to reveal the agenda of his talks with the Saudi leaders.
Besides performing Umra, he is expected to call on King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and hold substantive talks with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, a senior official at the Prime Minister's Secretariat said. He is also expected to meet Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz.
Mr Jamali's discussions with Prince Abdullah are expected to cover matters relating to consolidation of brotherly ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in different fields, the official said. The talks would also cover the situation in South Asia, the Gulf, Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, he added.
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