Pakistan asks Commonwealth to defer suspension decision
By Qudssia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Pakistan has asked the 53-nation Commonwealth to defer a decision on its membership and immediately dispatch a delegation to review the situation here.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq told a weekly news briefing here on Wednesday that caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro had discussed the issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday and spoke to the Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon earlier. He said that Mr Soomro had also sent letters to the heads of governments of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) countries, including the UK, urging them to delay a decision on Pakistan’s suspension.
Referring to the caretaker prime minister’s conversation with his British counterpart, the spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister informed Gordon Brown that while emergency is imposed in the country at present, everything is being done in the spirit of the Constitution and all steps taken by the government are consistent with Constitutional provisions.”
NUKE: Responding to a question regarding cooperation with the US and other countries in the area of nuclear security, the spokesperson categorically stated: “All the security measures are taken by Pakistan. No other country is taking any security measures in Pakistan regarding its nuclear assets.”
When the spokesperson’s attention was drawn to a report in The Times of India on Tuesday claiming that the US had already got control of Pakistan’s nuclear assets, his immediate response was: “Their wish!” He then declared: “I assure you that these assets are totally safe and secure.”
SIACHEN: Replying to another question the spokesperson said: “We hope that India would not take steps which would vitiate the atmosphere for the composite dialogue process and dialogue process on Siachen. We hope that India would not send trekking groups to Siachen which is a disputed territory because such steps vitiate the atmosphere for the talks.”
MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE: Pakistan has been invited to attend the high profile Middle East Peace Conference being hosted by the US government in Maryland next week and the government is considering participating in the consultation that is expected to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
The invitation was verbally conveyed to the caretaker Foreign Minister Inamul Haq by the US Ambassador Anne Patterson who called on him at the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
“Pakistan welcomes any proposals that would bring peace and stability to the Middle East and could resolve the core issue of Palestine that has caused instability, suffering and conflict in the region for the last several decades,” Mr Sadiq observed.
When asked if Pakistan would consider the invitation, he said: “Yes we are considering it,” adding: “A decision will be taken on the participation and level of participation shortly.”
