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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General expresses concern at Sentence on Nawaz Sharif

6 April 2000

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, today expressed his concern at the verdict passed by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on the deposed Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, who was overthrown by a military coup in October 1999, and subsequently tried for hijacking, terrorism, abduction and attempted murder.

Mr McKinnon said:

"I am dismayed by the severity of the sentence passed today on Mr Nawaz Sharif. This was a trial conducted against an elected Prime Minister, unconstitutionally overthrown, under a regime whose legitimacy has not been recognised by the Commonwealth.  The credibility of the Pakistani regime in the eyes of the world will not be enhanced by this judgement. 

I urge the Chief Executive, General Parvez Musharraf, to grant a full amnesty to Mr Sharif and commute the sentence.  I also impress upon General Musharraf the necessity of an immediate return to democratic principles and the rule of law in Pakistan."

 

Note to Editors:

At their meeting in Durban in November last year, Commonwealth Heads of Government condemned the unconstitutional overthrow of the democratically elected Government in Pakistan on 12 October 1999 and called for the restoration of civilian democratic rule  without delay.  Heads of Government also urged that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and others detained with him be released immediately and that the rule of law in Pakistan be duly observed.  Heads of Government suspended the military regime in Pakistan from the councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy in that country.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) will be discussing developments in Pakistan at its next meeting in London on 2-3 May 2000.  CMAG was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1995 to address serious and persistent violations of Commonwealth principles as outlined in the Harare Declaration.  It was reconstituted by Heads of Government at Durban in November 1999, and now comprises Ministers from Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.  It is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

 

00/21 6 April, 2004

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