Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD1362
2007-03-26 13:02:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
CHIEF JUSTICE SUSPENSION PROTESTS SET ON "SIMMER"
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S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 001362
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: CHIEF JUSTICE SUSPENSION PROTESTS SET ON "SIMMER"
- PPP HEAVYWEIGHTS QUIETLY SEEK DIALOGUE
REF: ISLAMABAD 1329 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 001362
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: CHIEF JUSTICE SUSPENSION PROTESTS SET ON "SIMMER"
- PPP HEAVYWEIGHTS QUIETLY SEEK DIALOGUE
REF: ISLAMABAD 1329 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy called
for further demonstrations on March 26 to protest Chief
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's suspension. Turnout was highest
in Lahore (septel),where approximately 1,200 Pakistan
People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, and
Jamaat-e-Islami representatives protested peacefully. (Note:
The Mutahida Majlis-e-Amam coalition of religious parties, of
which Jamaat-e-Islami is a member, declared its support for
the Alliance's call for protests. End Note.) Islamabad
turnout was low: approximately 50 protesters staged a
three-hour sit-in at Melody Market. Numbers in Karachi and
Peshawar were similarly low.
2. (C) As the Alliance's senior coalition partner, the
Pakistan People's Party is participating in the protests, but
their hearts do not appear to be in it, keeping the numbers
of protesters relatively low. Part of the reason may be the
arrest of many party workers. The media reported that Punjab
police arrested over 200 opposition leaders and workers over
the weekend. Others, one Pakistan People's Party official
said, are "in hiding" so as not to be arrested.
3. (S-NF) More fundamentally, People's Party leadership is
still taking a wait-and-see approach to the Chief Justice
controversy. Pakistan People's Party ex-Senator Abdullah Riar
brought together National Security Advisor Tariq Aziz and
Justice Chaudhry's lead counsel (and People's Party member)
Aitzaz Ahsan for an exploratory meeting over the weekend. The
result of the meeting, Riar said, was a basic exchange of
positions. On March 26, Riar told POLOFF that Aitzaz's
position was a non-starter, since he was asking the
government to withdraw the reference against Justice
Chaudhry. The parties left the meeting willing to talk again,
however.
4. (S-NF) Comment: The Pakistan People's Party has two
reasons to distance itself from the Chief Justice
controversy. The publicly discussed reason is that they do
not want to hand a victory to the religious parties. More
privately, however, they may see the controversy as a way to
advance their political agenda. Through its quiet diplomacy
and restraining its street power, the Pakistan People's Party
may be positioning itself for a potential electoral deal with
the Musharraf government. End Comment.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: CHIEF JUSTICE SUSPENSION PROTESTS SET ON "SIMMER"
- PPP HEAVYWEIGHTS QUIETLY SEEK DIALOGUE
REF: ISLAMABAD 1329 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy called
for further demonstrations on March 26 to protest Chief
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's suspension. Turnout was highest
in Lahore (septel),where approximately 1,200 Pakistan
People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, and
Jamaat-e-Islami representatives protested peacefully. (Note:
The Mutahida Majlis-e-Amam coalition of religious parties, of
which Jamaat-e-Islami is a member, declared its support for
the Alliance's call for protests. End Note.) Islamabad
turnout was low: approximately 50 protesters staged a
three-hour sit-in at Melody Market. Numbers in Karachi and
Peshawar were similarly low.
2. (C) As the Alliance's senior coalition partner, the
Pakistan People's Party is participating in the protests, but
their hearts do not appear to be in it, keeping the numbers
of protesters relatively low. Part of the reason may be the
arrest of many party workers. The media reported that Punjab
police arrested over 200 opposition leaders and workers over
the weekend. Others, one Pakistan People's Party official
said, are "in hiding" so as not to be arrested.
3. (S-NF) More fundamentally, People's Party leadership is
still taking a wait-and-see approach to the Chief Justice
controversy. Pakistan People's Party ex-Senator Abdullah Riar
brought together National Security Advisor Tariq Aziz and
Justice Chaudhry's lead counsel (and People's Party member)
Aitzaz Ahsan for an exploratory meeting over the weekend. The
result of the meeting, Riar said, was a basic exchange of
positions. On March 26, Riar told POLOFF that Aitzaz's
position was a non-starter, since he was asking the
government to withdraw the reference against Justice
Chaudhry. The parties left the meeting willing to talk again,
however.
4. (S-NF) Comment: The Pakistan People's Party has two
reasons to distance itself from the Chief Justice
controversy. The publicly discussed reason is that they do
not want to hand a victory to the religious parties. More
privately, however, they may see the controversy as a way to
advance their political agenda. Through its quiet diplomacy
and restraining its street power, the Pakistan People's Party
may be positioning itself for a potential electoral deal with
the Musharraf government. End Comment.
CROCKER