Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2544
2007-06-07 12:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
POLICE ARREST HUNDREDS THROUGHOUT PUNJAB PROVINCE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002544
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST HUNDREDS THROUGHOUT PUNJAB PROVINCE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002544
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST HUNDREDS THROUGHOUT PUNJAB PROVINCE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) According to media reports, Pakistani police have
arrested between 800 and 1,200 people -- mostly political
party workers -- throughout Punjab over the last few days.
Rahat Quddusi, special advisor to Punjab's Chief Minister,
said that the arrests are an effort to maintain law and
order, and the decision to crack down was made at a meeting
held last Friday chaired by Punjab's Inspector General of
Police. Those picked up, Quddusi said, were on a watch list
compiled by Pakistan's intelligence agencies.
2. (U) Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto publicly
condemned the arrest of her party's political activists --
which by mid-day June 7 totalled approximately 200, according
to People's Party officials. Bhutto said that the arrests
were a result of her party's decision to support the Pakistan
Federal Union of Journalists in its observation of a "black
day" in protest against the government's recent curbs against
the media. Other political parties, including Pakistan
Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, and members
of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal coalition are claiming their
party workers have also been arrested.
3. (C) Comment: Police roundups of political party workers
ahead of protest rallies have been common, and workers are
generally released after the end of the protest. The latest
round of arrests show that the government is worried about
the possible confluence of protests -- in support of the
Chief Justice and against the restrictions on press freedom.
End Comment.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST HUNDREDS THROUGHOUT PUNJAB PROVINCE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) According to media reports, Pakistani police have
arrested between 800 and 1,200 people -- mostly political
party workers -- throughout Punjab over the last few days.
Rahat Quddusi, special advisor to Punjab's Chief Minister,
said that the arrests are an effort to maintain law and
order, and the decision to crack down was made at a meeting
held last Friday chaired by Punjab's Inspector General of
Police. Those picked up, Quddusi said, were on a watch list
compiled by Pakistan's intelligence agencies.
2. (U) Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto publicly
condemned the arrest of her party's political activists --
which by mid-day June 7 totalled approximately 200, according
to People's Party officials. Bhutto said that the arrests
were a result of her party's decision to support the Pakistan
Federal Union of Journalists in its observation of a "black
day" in protest against the government's recent curbs against
the media. Other political parties, including Pakistan
Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, and members
of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal coalition are claiming their
party workers have also been arrested.
3. (C) Comment: Police roundups of political party workers
ahead of protest rallies have been common, and workers are
generally released after the end of the protest. The latest
round of arrests show that the government is worried about
the possible confluence of protests -- in support of the
Chief Justice and against the restrictions on press freedom.
End Comment.
BODDE