Editorial
Commonwealth ban on Pakistan lifted
Ball now in Musharraf's court
Pakistan is celebrating its re-admission to Commonwealth after its membership had been put under suspension for five long years. Though the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group praised the country's progress towards democracy, it stated in the same breath that President Pervez Musharraf was expected to fulfill his pledge to stand down as chief of army by the end of this year. The Commonwealth makes it clear too that it intends to keep track and monitor progress on 'strengthening the democratic process'. There are others who believe that President Musharraf has been rewarded for helping to fight al-Qaeda as a key ally in the US-British war against terror. Whatever it is, Pakistan cannot afford to ruin this opportunity of being taken fully onboard by the 53-nation Commonwealth which had suspended the country's membership following Musharraf's seizure of power from elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999. The Commonwealth's lifting of the ban has gone down as a 'moral win' for President Musharraf. But has it in the eye of Pakistanis? Musharraf's democratic reforms still leave a lot be desired and he owes it to the people to restore full democracy in Pakistan. India's new government was quick to endorse Pakistan's reentry to Commonwealth. In a way, this gives a positive vibe for improving ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. Let's hope that President Musharraf will relinquish his role as head of the army. That would be deemed to be a step towards democratising the Pakistan polity. One has to wait and see on that. But, admittedly, Pakistan's reentry to the Commonwealth has helped her regain her footing with the important bloc of nations much as it would bring economic benefits to her people.
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