ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign ministry Friday slammed its suspension from the Commonwealth as 'unreasonable and unjustified' and said it would review future cooperation with the organisation.
The government 'deeply regrets' the step which "does not take into account the objective conditions prevailing in Pakistan," it said in a first reaction to the suspension.
"Therefore, the CMAG decision is unreasonable and unjustified," it added, referring to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. "Pakistan will review its association and further cooperation with the organisation."
The Commonwealth, a 53-nation grouping of mainly British former colonies, took the step -- the second time it has suspended Pakistan -- amid anger over President Pervez Musharraf's state of emergency.
Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said Pakistan was in "serious violation" of the group's core values and was suspended immediately "pending the return of the rule of law and democracy."
It was suspended the first time in 1999 after Musharraf grabbed power in a coup, an exclusion that lasted five years.
The foreign ministry said Islamabad was committed to restoring democracy, arguing that the state of emergency was necessary to avert a serious internal crisis and the situation was now "returning toward normalcy."
It added: "The pace of progress towards normalcy will be determined by ground realities and legal requirements in Pakistan rather than unrealistic demands from outside."
Pakistan's caretaker premier, Mohammedmian Soomro, had telephoned British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and McKinnon to plead against suspension.
