Islamabad, Nov 23: Pakistan has termed the Commonwealth decision to suspend it from the 53-member body because of emergency rule as "unreasonable and unjustified".

The Foreign Office statement expressed deep regret over the decision of the suspension of Pakistan’s membership.

The Commonwealth had failed to appreciate Pakistan's "serious internal crisis", the Foreign Ministry said.

It added that it would review its ties with the group after the decision.

Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said that Pakistan was being suspended "pending restoration of democracy and the rule of law".

In recent days, the Musharraf regime has released over 3,400 people.

A Commonwealth ministerial committee decided to suspend Pakistan from the bloc pending the return of the rule of law following the imposition of emergency rule earlier this month.

"CMAG (Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group) has suspended Pakistan forthwith from the council pending the return of the rule of law and democracy," Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, said.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, placing the Chief Justice under house arrest, detaining lawyers, rights activists and opposition members and curbing press freedoms.

Pakistan will be banned from attending the organisation's meetings and taking part in the Commonwealth Games.

It is the second time that Pakistan has been expelled from the Commonwealth. The country was suspended in 1999, after Musharraf seized power in a coup. It was reinstated in 2004. (ANI)