Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Home
  2. What's New
  3. Who We Are
  4. What We Do
    1. Democracy
    2. Economics
    3. Education
    4. Gender
    5. Governance
    6. Health
    7. Human Rights
    8. Law
    9. Small States
    10. Sport
    11. Sustainability
    12. Youth
    13. Millennium Development Goals
    14. Funding
  5. News
    1. Events
    2. News Archive Search
    3. Picture Stories
  6. Media Room
    1. Press Archive Search
    2. Media Contacts
    3. Video
    4. Events
    5. In the Media
    6. Updates
    7. Downloads
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Image Library
    3. Libary & Archives
    4. Publications
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us
Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General to visit Pakistan

23 August 2000

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Don McKinnon, will visit Pakistan from 26-27 August 2000 to convey Commonwealth concerns to the military regime over a timetable for the early restoration of constitutional and democratic rule.

Pakistan has been suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth - it does not participate in Commonwealth meetings or secure technical assistance - since the military coup in October 1999. Mr McKinnon's discussions on a return to democratic rule will therefore be in the context of establishing a timeframe in which Pakistan could be brought back into the councils of the Commonwealth.  

While in Islamabad, the Secretary-General will hold discussions with President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf, Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Abdul Sattar and Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan. He will also meet with members of political parties, media, NGOs and representatives of civil society.

The Secretary-General will explore the possibility of extending Commonwealth technical assistance to Pakistan aimed at the restoration of democracy.

The visit is a follow-up to the thirteenth meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) which decided to "remain engaged with the Pakistani regime in pursuit of a definite commitment on a clear timetable for a full restoration of democracy".

Note to Editors

Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth at a special CMAG meeting held on 18 October 1999in London. Subsequently, the Durban Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 1999 endorsed CMAG's decision and directed it to "keep the situation in Pakistanunder review and be prepared to recommend further measures to be taken by the Commonwealth if progress to democracy is not made speedily".

 

Media Enquiries

Media enquiries in Islamabad should be directed to Ms Cheryl Dorall at the

Marriott Hotel. (Tel: + 92 51 826121; Fax: + 92 51 820648)         
Share this page
About this

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int