MAY 15 KARACHI UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PK PREL SUBJECT: MAY 15 KARACHI UPDATE REF: ISLAMABAD 2157 Classified By: Charge Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to Consulate Karachi, as of 1500 Tuesday, April 15 (three days after the outbreak of violence),most Karachi businesses are operating normally and the city, while somber, is returning to normal. Public transportation is operating. The airport and all usual transport routes in Karachi are secure and open. The Karachi port is open and U.S. cargo was despatched to Afghanistan at 0600 local. ¶2. (C) Sporadic violence continues. According to Consulate Karachi, eight people died and seven were wounded overnight. Rangers and unspecified gangs clashed in the Liyari neighborhood; one minor was killed in the crossfire. According to the press, the Sindh government is considering imposing curfews in selected neighborhoods. ¶3. (C) We are unaware of any Karachi-related protests around the country. Embassy contacts report that MQM Members of the National Assembly worry that Pashtun elements may attempt to exact revenge on them. The MQM members are taking unusual steps to protect their personal security, according to our contacts. Contacts add that, when the MQM National Assembly members attempted to shake hands with members from other parties on May 14 (a cultural requirement in Pakistan), the non-MQM members refused to shake hands. ¶4. (U) Newspapers report that the unrest has cost the Pakistani economy 12 billion rupees (USD 200 million). ¶5. (C) We have requested a meeting with MQM leader Dr. Farooq Saatar to discuss the weekend's events. BODDE