The 53-nation Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan from membership because President Pervez Musharraf had failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency rule and resign as army chief.

The Commonwealth had given Musharraf until today Thursday to lift the state of emergency he imposed on Nov. 3, a move met by widespread international condemnation.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), charged with reviewing Pakistan's membership, has "suspended Pakistan forthwith from the Commonwealth ....for its violations," Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon told a news conference.