Pak. faces stiffer C'wealth sanctions

LONDON, MAY 6. Pakistan faces stiffer sanctions and prospects of ``full suspension'' of Commonwealth membership if it fails to announce the schedule for democratic elections in the country before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Brisbane in October, Commonwealth sources said today.

``If Pakistan fails to announce a date for elections before CHOGM, there is a good chance of its full suspension from membership and even if it does announce a date and the date remains October 2002, there will be pressure from a number of countries to have sanctions, a higher level of sanctions,'' they said quoting the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group of Foreign Ministers (CMAG). Though for long, the Commonwealth has stressed speedy restoration of democracy, signals emanating from Islamabad are ``don't tell us what to do, whatever we do, we will do at our own pace and what we judge is in the best interests of our country...democracy has done only disservice to Pakistan,'' the sources told PTI.

This is a very dangerous argument and the Commonwealth leaders have effectively rejected it, they added.

``The next step will be suspension of membership - its name will not appear any more in Commonwealth conferences and its flag will not fly in Commonwealth meetings and NGOs will have injunction in dealing with it,'' they said. Pakistan is currently suspended from the Commonwealth Council and cannot participate in official meetings - ministerial, official and inter-governmental - but can take part in Commonwealth games, cultural events and NGOs can continue to have links with the country.

India has been pressing for implementation of the Millbrook action programme which stipulates a two-year time-frame for restoration of democracy (in countries) where institutions are not in place to permit holding of elections, the sources said.

A maximum of six months is given to States where institutions such as the Election Commission and voters list are in place. Pakistan has an Election Commission, though the voters list is stated to be faulty. ``India is making the point that if you have a Millbrook action programme, then you implement it. You can't seem to be going against a code of conduct that you have agreed upon,'' they said.

As a prelude to CHOGM, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Don Mckinnon will undertake a four-nation tour from tomorrow, starting with India, to discuss issues including restoration of democracy in Pakistan, constitutional rule in Fiji and topics currently being reviewed by a high-level group of which Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is a member. Besides India, Mr. Mckinnon will visit Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.

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