CHIEF JUSTICE UPDATE: ORDERLY PROTESTS, SUPREME

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001737 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2017 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PINS PREL PK SUBJECT: CHIEF JUSTICE UPDATE: ORDERLY PROTESTS, SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL ADJOURNS TO APRIL 24 REF: A. ISLAMABAD 1659 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 1456 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 1329 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) THE HEARING: The Supreme Judicial Council handling the reference against suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry met today (April 18) and, as expected, adjourned without major developments. The next hearings are scheduled for April 24, May 2 and May 3. Meanwhile, Chief Justice Chaudhry filed a constitutional petition with the Supreme Court detailing over one hundred points, including challenging the Supreme Judicial Council's composition and constitutionality. Chaudhry's lead counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, wants the Supreme Court to meet April 20 to address the petition before the Supreme Judicial Council proceeds. Additionally, Ahsan, at today's hearing, asked the Council to decide quickly whether certain of its members were biased and should step aside from ruling on the Chief Justice reference. The Council demurred, telling Ahsan that it would not deal with this objection to the Council's composition in isloation. ¶2. (SBU) THE PROTESTS -- snapshots from around Pakistan: -- Islamabad: In what has become a ritual of sorts in Islamabad, the authorities deployed early in the morning and closed off the main avenues around the Supreme Court. Lawyers and political parties protested peacefully and did not come into conflict with the police. Estimated numbers range from 3,000 to 8,000 participants. More important than the actual figure is the consensus that the turnout was "less impressive than last time" (April 13),as one local journalist at the scene characterized it. Other Embassy contacts reported that the MMA was the largest political presence, followed by the PPP. The protest concluded and traffic returned to normal by early afternoon. Local television channels gave minimal airing to the protest -- in stark contrast to previous protests when they devoted full-day live coverage to the situation on the streets. -- Lahore: An estimated 600-700 lawyers and 250-300 political party members marched peacefully to the Lahore High Court. Cooperation between the marchers and local officials remained good. The protest was somewhat smaller than the previous one. The PML-N was notable in its absence (they made a better showing in Islamabad) and the PPP continued to send only token numbers of marchers. -- Karachi: In the middle of the day, an estimated 400-700 lawyers marched from the city courts to the High Court and then protested at the Chief Minister's house. Separately, 250-300 Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy protestors staged at the Karachi Press Club. Both rallies dispersed peacefully. The Islamist party alliance MMA has announced a rally at 17:00 local time -- a crowd of 1,000 is expected. -- Peshawar: A group of approximately 150-200 lawyers protested peacefully in support of the Chief Justice. No political parties took part. The size of the protests in Peshawar has shrunk considerably. ¶3. (C) THE UPSHOT: Today's events underscore that the Supreme Judicial Council is taking a methodical, unhurried approach to the Chief Justice reference. The many petitions filed before the Supreme Court challenging various aspects of the case serve to complicate matters. Legal sources tell us that it would theoretically take years for the Supreme Court to deal with all of the petitions. Meanwhile, rising temperatures will make it increasingly difficult for parties to persuade their members to take to Islamabad's blistering hot streets. BODDE