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The Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan until democracy is restored after military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency rule and step down as army chief.

A committee of foreign ministers of the 53-member organization ‘has suspended Pakistan from councils of the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country,’ secretary general Don McKinnon told journalists.

He said the group was disappointed because there had been some progress — and cited the release of detainees — but said it was concerned about the arrests of journalists and lawyers and said the Commonwealth’s conditions had not been fulfilled.

‘The state of emergency had not been lifted. The constitution and the independence of the judiciary not restored and fundamental rights and the rule of law remain curtailed,’ McKinnon said, reading a statement on behalf of the ministers.

"AMM JANATA"

Passengers may be spared of a hike in Railway fares even in the 2008-09 Rail Budget. Observing that Indian Railways had made a profit of Rs 20,000 crore last year despite a cut in fares, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad indicated that the next Railway Budget would also be an ‘aam janata’ (common man’s) budget. Let KERALA be in his AMM JANATA's list!

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Senior Congress leaders from Kerala maintained that it was for the congress high command to take a decision on the return of NCP leader K. Karunakaran to Congress.

Talking to reporters after attending the district Congress leadership meet here, Defence Minister and CWC member A.K. Antony said he did not wish to make the issue of Karunakaran's return to Congress a point for discussion in the state. Antony said he would air his opinion on the matter before the high command if it was sought.

Union Minister for Non-Resident Affairs, Vlayalar Ravi said no discussion on this issue had taken place in the state unit of the party. "I will give my view on the issue if such a discussion takes place in the party", he said on the side lines of the party leadership meet.

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