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	Don McKinnon, left, Secretary-General of Commonwealth talks with Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf, chief executive of Pakistan, Saturday, Aug 26, 2000 in Islamabad. McKinnon met Musharraf Saturday to demand a date for the promised return to democracy in this impoverished country. (APphoto)

August 28, 2000 

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's deposed politicians met Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon on Sunday in support of a quick return to democracy and an end to army rule of their homeland.

"We appreciate the Commonwealth support for democracy," Liaquat Baluch, a leader of the orthodox Jamaat-e-Islami or Party of Islam told The Associated Press after meeting McKinnon.

The Commonwealth, an association comprising Britain and its former colonies, suspended Pakistan's membership after the Oct. 12 military coup that ousted the government of Nawaz Sharif. Since then, the Commonwealth has been pressing the military to hold early elections.

But military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf says elections will be held in line with a Supreme Court deadline of three years. Before that Musharraf said his government will try to revive the economy, weed out the corrupt and impose electoral reforms that will allow for free and fair polls.

In a meeting Saturday with Musharraf, McKinnon repeated the Commonwealth's hope for early polls.

Hamid Nasir Chattaha, the leader of a so-called Grand Democratic Alliance made up of 17 political parties, met McKinnon on Sunday to argue for early elections saying the army is using reforms and accountability as an excuse to delay elections.

Representatives of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League and ousted premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples' Party will meet McKinnon later on Sunday.

Musharraf accuses Sharif's government of massive corruption and of destroying institutions.

Corruption is a major issue in Pakistan where four successive elected governments have been toppled on corruption charges in the last 10 years.

There is little pressure from Pakistanis for elections in a country where the army has ruled for 25 of its 53-year history.

Baluch said there have been no protests against the military takeover because people are frustrated by the massive corruption and mismanagement of the two former ruling parties.

"But Pakistanis want democracy," he said.