Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon has praised Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for his efforts to return his country to democratic rule.
But McKinnon made it clear that it was up to the Commonwealth ministers to decide on lifting Islamabad's suspension from their 52-member organisation.
McKinnon, who is visiting Malaysia to attend a tourism ministers' conference, was earlier reported by news agencies as saying the Commonwealth is likely to lift Pakistan's four-year suspension next month.
But his spokesman, Joel Kibazo, who said McKinnon had been misquoted, explained, "The secretary general acknowledges the steps taken by Pakistan, but it is up to the ministers to decide whether to lift the suspension."
The issue of Pakistan's Commonwealth membership will be discussed during a meeting next month in London of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, known as CMAG.
The consensus among Commonwealth diplomats in London is that India and other CMAG countries will endorse Pakistan's return to full Commonwealth membership.
Musharraf also enjoys strong backing from the United States, which has this week conferred the status of 'major non-NATO ally' on Islamabad amid a major offensive against suspected Al Qaeda guerillas.
Asked if the Commmonwealth was taking its cue from Washington, McKinnon replied, "We are not in the business of just following someone else."
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