Describing the elections in Pakistan as "reasonably peaceful", the Commonwealth has said it looks forward to the country playing its "full role" in the grouping once democracy is fully restored.
"The Commonwealth is keen to engage with the new government once it is formed, including at ministerial level," the 53-nation grouping's Secretary General Don McKinnon said on Wednesday night.
Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth after President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in November 2007.
Noting that Pakistan is important to the Commonwealth, McKinnon said, "We look forward to it once again playing its full role in the association once democracy is fully restored. We remain ready to assist towards that end."
McKinnon said, "These elections are an important step in Pakistan's journey towards full democracy.
Although the run up to the elections was marred by serious acts of violence, of which the most shocking was the assassination of (former premier) Benazir Bhutto, it is a relief that polling day itself was reasonably peaceful."
He hoped that the democratic process would now be permitted to play itself out fully, with the formation of a new government in accordance with Constitutional procedures.
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