London: Pakistan will remain suspended from the Commonwealth as its Parliament has remained deadlocked over the status of the Legal Framework Orders issued by President Pervez Musharraf as the military chief, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group decided on May 20.

While agreeing to review Pakistan's suspension at its next meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Group hoped that dialogue between the government and the Opposition parties on outstanding issues, including the LFO, would be concluded successfully in the spirit of Parliamentary practice and process, the Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon told reporters after the CMAG meeting.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, who was also present at the briefing, said, "I agree with the decision and I have nothing more to add to the decision of the group." He was replying to a question on India's reaction to the decision to keep Pakistan suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

The concluding statement read out by McKinnon said the Group received a report from the Secretary- General on recent developments in Pakistan, in particular "the role and functioning of Democratic institutions since the October 2002 elections".

"The Group welcomed the progress made by Pakistan in the establishment of Democratic institutions including the election of the National Assembly, the Senate and Provincial Assemblies, and the formation of Democratic governments at the national and provincial levels. It also welcomed the positive measures taken for women's representation in the Parliament, the representation of minorities and the determination to enhance public accountability and end corruption."

PTI