ISLAMABAD, May 21: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Friday said the statement of the acting president of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, opposing the PPP's move to block Pakistan's re-entry to the Commonwealth was due to pressure from the regime.

It may be mentioned that Mr Hashmi, in a statement, had stated that Pakistan Muslim League-N had nothing to do with the letter sent to the Commonwealth secretary-general by the PPP vice-president Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

He had also stated that his party was not against readmission of Pakistan into the Commonwealth fold. Mr Hashmi is in Adiala Jail after his conviction in a treason case in which he was awarded 23-year imprisonment.

A senior PPP leader, when contacted, said perhaps Mr Hashmi had issued this statement due to some pressure. "You know, he is in jail and it will not be easy for him to resist any pressure from the authority," he added.