London: An extraordinary meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has been convened here on next Monday to discuss the situation in Pakistan where a state of Emergency has been imposed by President Pervez Musharraf.
 
The CMAG meeting has been convened by Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon following consultations with the Group s chairperson, Malta s Foreign Minister Michael Frendo.

In a statement issued on November 3,McKinnon expressed grave concern at the development, calling it a step in the wrong direction and a serious setback to democracy.
CMAG comprises the foreign ministers of nine countries - Canada, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and United Republic of Tanzania. Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in October 1999 and restored to full membership in May 2004.

However, it has since remained on the agenda of the CMAG, which was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995,to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth s fundamental political values.

Source : PTI