Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon (C) reads a statement during the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in London to discuss the state of emergency in Pakistan, November 12, 2007. The Commonwealth of 53 nations, mostly former British colonies, threatened Pakistan with suspension on Monday unless President Pervez Musharraf repealed emergency laws and took other steps by November 22. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN)
Don McKinnon, right, Commonwealth Secretary-General speaks next to Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho at a press conference at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Foreign ministers from the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies said Monday that Pakistan would be suspended from the organization unless the state of emergency was repealed and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf stepped down as army chief by Nov. 22. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Musharraf can retire in comfort somewhere and write another book on how he endangered the civilized world while collecting billions of US Dollars from the USA as a coup leader. I know at least half the populous in the USA would buy it. The circumstances in Pakistan and the potential lethal outcomes to all the region are too serious to leave to chance, the country needs an occupation force and that would be looking to NATO, while USA Marines are redeployed out of Iraq and into Afghanistan to pick up the slack. Afghanistan is grossly unstable and it's time to ask surrounding countries including Russia to once again find the will to become allies to stabilize the country. With a NATO occupation of Pakistan a transition government by consent of the people could be easily established while the Taliban were squeezed from both sides of the mountains.
Commonwealth Gives Musharraf November 22 Deadline (click here)
Foreign ministers from the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies said Monday it would suspend Pakistan from the organization unless President Pervez Musharraf lifted the state of emergency by November 22.
The nine-member Commonwealth ministerial action group has in effect given President Pervez Musharraf 10 days to restore democratic institutions Pakistan or face suspension from the 53-nation body.
The heads of the Commonwealth member states are meeting in Kampala November 23rd.
At a news conference after Monday's London meeting, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon called on President Musharraf to begin implementing a number of changes.
"Immediate repeal of the emergency provisions and full restoration of the constitution and of the independence of the judiciary," said Don McKinnon. "This should also include full restoration of fundamental rights and the rule of law that have been curbed under the proclamation of emergency. President Musharraf to step down as promised [as army chief]. Immediate release of political party leaders and activists, human rights activists and lawyers and journalists detained under the proclamation of emergency."
McKinnon also says curbs on the press must be lifted and conditions must be created for holding free and fair elections in accordance with the constitution.
General Musharraf knows the implications of refusing to comply. Pakistan was previously suspended by the Commonwealth in 1999 after he seized power in a coup.
Pakistan was reinstated five years later after Musharraf agreed to give up his role as head of the armed forces, something he has still not done.
