Pakistan condemns Commonwealth ban
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pakistan has dismissed the Commonwealth's decision to suspend its membership, claiming the move was "unreasonable and unjustified".
The country's foreign ministry said it was reviewing its ties to the group after a foreign ministers' committee from the organisation decided at the heads of government meeting in Uganda to suspend Pakistan. The suspension was imposed after General Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a Commonwealth deadline for lifting the state of emergency in Pakistan and to resign as army chief. "The pace of progress towards normalcy will be determined by ground realities and legal requirements in Pakistan rather than unrealistic demands from outside," said a spokesman.
The former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who tried to return to Pakistan from exile in September only to be deported by the government, could return next week, it emerged yesterday. Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) said: "Nawaz Sharif will be returning in the next four or five days."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments