Don McKinnon wants to examine the path back to democracy

The Commonwealth, an association comprising Britain and its former colonies, usually gives countries where the elected governments have been overthrown two years to hold polls, or at least come up with a comprehensive timetable for them.

Pakistan President General Musharraf announced earlier this month that elections would be held in October next year.

Elections welcomed

Mr McKinnon is holding a series of meetings in the capital, Islamabad, where he will talk to General Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, as well as members of political parties and diplomats.

The government says it feels the Commonwealth was hasty in suspending it after the coup.

Mr McKinnon welcomed the announcement of elections - but said he wanted to discuss various elements in the timetable.

General Musharraf has set elections for next year

A government spokesman said General Musharraf was committed to bringing in genuine democracy and they thought the suspension should be lifted.

The leaders of some political parties have criticised the government's plans, saying it is unclear what powers the president intends to take for himself in the lead up to elections.

It is expected he will change the constitution to make the presidency more powerful and to give the military a supervisory role over civilian governments.

Declared president

The secretary general's findings will be discussed by Commonwealth ministers at their meeting next month.

They may want to see the election plans put into practice before lifting the suspension.

General Musharraf declared himself president in June, a move criticised by Mr McKinnon.

Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled last year that the army was justified in seizing power, but ordered elections by October 2002 at the latest.

The court gave Musharraf sweeping powers to change the constitution.

He has also promised to clean up corruption in Pakistan's political system and bring in electoral reforms.