Pak re-admitted to Commonwealth

Pakistan was suspended from the 53-nation grouping on November 16 last year after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in the country.

Suspended for almost six months, Pakistan on Monday was re-admitted into the Commonwealth.

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The decision to this effect was taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group which deals with violations of the organisation's rules on democracy.

"Pakistan is now restored to the councils of the Commonwealth," said Commonwealth new Secretary-General India's Kamalesh Sharma after the talks at the grouping's Marlborough House headquarters.

Pakistan was suspended from the 53-nation grouping on November 16 last year at its Kampala Summit after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in the country the third of the same month.

Sharma was keen to see Pakistan back into the group considering that the Emergency was lifted and a democratic government was in office in Islamabad.