ISLAMABAD, May 24: President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that Pakistan was not bound by any Commonwealth conditions to save its membership and that it would be guided by its own national interests.

"We will take steps which are in the interests of Pakistan and not in the interests of Commonwealth," he said in a speech at a students' convention here. "We are happy to be a member of the Commonwealth," the president said, but added: "I have taken exception to the statement made by the Commonwealth secretary-general. We are not here to take dictations from others."

Announcing the restoration of Pakistan's membership on Saturday, Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon had said that Islamabad had to implement amendments to the constitution in letter and in spirit, including "the issue of the separation of the offices of the president and the chief of army staff".