March 05, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 4: Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband will soon visit Pakistan to discuss ways of restoring Pakistan’s Commonwealth membership and other issues of mutual interest.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday and indicated his country’s support for the restoration of Pakistan’s membership.

This was the first direct contact between the two leaders after the Feb 18 polls.

A statement issued by the foreign office said Mr Brown felt that Pakistan should return to the Commonwealth to resume its role as an important member.

British High Commission’s spokesman Aiden Liddle told Dawn that Mr Brown and President Musharraf had discussed steps needed for Pakistan to resume its rightful place in Commonwealth.

The foreign office statement said Prime Minister Brown informed President Musharraf that he was sending Foreign Secretary David Miliband to discuss these and other issues with the Pakistani leadership, particularly the regional security situation.

The Commonwealth had suspended Pakistan’s membership on Nov 23 last year after President Musharraf did not lift the state of emergency by a date set by the organisation. Prime Minister Brown, it may be mentioned, was among the first leaders to welcome Pakistan’s suspension, saying the move was necessary and justified.

President Musharraf informed Prime Minister Brown that the process for convening the national and provincial assemblies and government formation was under way.

He hoped that this would strengthen democratic traditions and institutions in Pakistan.