PML-Q FACTIONS CLASH

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000346 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/6/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PK SUBJECT: PML-Q FACTIONS CLASH REF: (A) PESHAWAR 143 (B) PESHAWAR 099 (C) 05 PESHAWAR 536 (D) 05 PESHAWAR 525 CLASSIFIED BY: Michael Spangler, Principal Officer, AmConsul Peshawar, State Department. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) A June 29 clash between two factions of the Northwest Frontier Province's (NWFP) Pakistan Muslim League - Q (PML-Q) exposed deep fissures in the party's provincial leadership. A forward bloc supported by Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Relations Salim Saifullah Khan scheduled a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club to speak out against the PML-Q's Provincial President Amir Muqam. Members of the forward bloc include the PML-Q's Provincial Senior Vice President Olas Khalil and former PML-Q Provincial Deputy Secretary of Information Ihsanullah. These bloc members planned to announce their resignations from party posts and demand the removal of Federal Minister for Political Affairs Amir Muqam. ¶2. (SBU) As the dissidents began their program, Muqam supporters approached the press club management and demanded that the bloc members not be allowed to conduct their press conference. When they were refused, Muqam supporters hurled abuses and physically attacked some journalists outside the press club, injuring, among others, a Khyber TV cameraman. In response, forward bloc members called their supporters, and both groups clashed for at least an hour before the police arrived to arrest ten of the brawlers. ¶3. (SBU) The Press Club management criticized the police for not taking appropriate steps to keep the peace although a request for security had been made in advance. The press corps later protested in front of the Chief Minister's house, and filed a case against Amir Muqam, PML-Q Information Secretary Nighat Orakzai, PML-Q labor wing leader Arbab Akbar Hayat, and Muslim Student Federation leader Rahimdil Nawaz. On July 4, Peshawar Sessions Court granted them bail before arrest. ¶4. (C) Comment: The brawl exposes deeply rooted divisions within the PML-Q in the NWFP. The provincial party was initially divided between Salim Saifullah and former PML-Q provincial president Syed Agha Ali Shah. The party has now divided into three factions with the ascendancy of Amir Muqam. This division is not limited to the leadership but trickles down to the lower ranks -- and could affect the national ruling party's chances here in the next election. End comment. SPANGLER