April 13, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 12: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Maleeha Lodhi said on Saturday that the Commonwealth was working out modalities for the restoration of Pakistan’s membership in the organisation.

A meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) would be held soon in this regard, she told DawnNews television.

“The Commonwealth itself is looking at modalities to ensure restoration of Pakistan’s membership,” she added.

Dr Lodhi said the secretary-general of Commonwealth, who assumed charge on April 1, had a conversation with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and he congratulated him on assuming the office.

During the conversation, the secretary-general expressed the Commonwealth’s desire that Pakistan should return to the organisation, she said.

To a question, she said: “The Commonwealth itself suspended Pakistan’s membership and therefore we feel that it is for the Commonwealth now to restore it.”

Dr Lodhi said: “So we have to keep this distinction in mind and as far as Pakistan is concerned, we await what the Commonwealth itself has planned to do.”—APP