Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD3111
2007-07-18 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS ISLAMABAD CHIEF JUSTICE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003111
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS ISLAMABAD CHIEF JUSTICE
RALLY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003111
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS ISLAMABAD CHIEF JUSTICE
RALLY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: It is still too early to draw conclusions
about the cause of the July 18 suicide bombing in Islamabad.
The government's challenge will be to provide the increased
security that opposition parties and the general public are
demanding without imposing a state of emergency. End Summary.
2. (SBU) A suicide bombing disrupted a rally in the F-8
neighborhood of Islamabad on the evening of July 18. Police
sources reported that the bomber, who was unable to pass
through the security check at the rally, detonated himself
approximately 60 meters away from the rally, killing 19
people (11 of whom were police) and injuring 63.
3. (SBU) Suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was
scheduled to address a crowd of Pakistan Bar Association
members, Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League -
Nawaz supporters. Although the media reported that most of
those killed were Pakistan People's Party workers, a People's
Party official told PolOff that five party members were
killed and eight were wounded. The attack occurred before
Chaudhry's arrival.
4. (U) President Musharraf immediately issued a statement
comdemning the act, expressing condolences to the families of
those killed, appealing to the public to remain calm,
vigilant, and requesting the public assist authorities in
tracking down those responsible for the act. Interior
Minister Aftab Sherpao told reporters that the attack was the
continuation of a series of terrorist attacks that have
occurred in the wake of the Red Mosque operation and said
that there was no possibility that the government would
impose a state of emergency. The government has tightened
security throughout Pakistan in response to the incident.
5. (U) In a particularly inflammatory statement, Aitzaz
Ahsan, Chief Justice Chaudhry's lead counsel, blamed the
attack on the government and said that the attack was a
government attempt to "eliminate" the Chief Justice. The
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentary Board, which was
meeting with Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in London, issued a
statement expressing apprehension that a "hidden hand" was
creating anarchy in order impose a state of emergency and
postpone elections.
6. (C) Speculation about the cause of the attack is already
rife. Like the People's Party, some Pakistanis have been
quick to blame the government for planning the attack so that
President Musharraf can use the current spate of violence as
an excuse to declare a state of emergency and postpone
upcoming parliamentary elections (which will occur later this
year or early next year). Others have attributed the blast as
an act of revenge against the Pakistan People's Party for
their support of the government's actions in the Lal Masjid
operation. Still others -- particularly ethnic Pashtuns --
see the attack as a logical -- and uncontrollable --
extension of the violence already occurring in the Northwest
Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas.
7. (C) Comment: It is still too early to draw firm
conclusions about the cause of the July 18 suicide bombing in
Islamabad, but the tactics (and other information) indicate
it is most likely related to militant groups in the
Pak-Afghan border area. Like the infiltration of radicals
into the Red Mosque, this is another troubling sign that the
violence in the border area can spread. The government's
challenge will be to provide the increased security that
opposition parties and the general public are demanding. End
Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS ISLAMABAD CHIEF JUSTICE
RALLY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: It is still too early to draw conclusions
about the cause of the July 18 suicide bombing in Islamabad.
The government's challenge will be to provide the increased
security that opposition parties and the general public are
demanding without imposing a state of emergency. End Summary.
2. (SBU) A suicide bombing disrupted a rally in the F-8
neighborhood of Islamabad on the evening of July 18. Police
sources reported that the bomber, who was unable to pass
through the security check at the rally, detonated himself
approximately 60 meters away from the rally, killing 19
people (11 of whom were police) and injuring 63.
3. (SBU) Suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was
scheduled to address a crowd of Pakistan Bar Association
members, Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League -
Nawaz supporters. Although the media reported that most of
those killed were Pakistan People's Party workers, a People's
Party official told PolOff that five party members were
killed and eight were wounded. The attack occurred before
Chaudhry's arrival.
4. (U) President Musharraf immediately issued a statement
comdemning the act, expressing condolences to the families of
those killed, appealing to the public to remain calm,
vigilant, and requesting the public assist authorities in
tracking down those responsible for the act. Interior
Minister Aftab Sherpao told reporters that the attack was the
continuation of a series of terrorist attacks that have
occurred in the wake of the Red Mosque operation and said
that there was no possibility that the government would
impose a state of emergency. The government has tightened
security throughout Pakistan in response to the incident.
5. (U) In a particularly inflammatory statement, Aitzaz
Ahsan, Chief Justice Chaudhry's lead counsel, blamed the
attack on the government and said that the attack was a
government attempt to "eliminate" the Chief Justice. The
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentary Board, which was
meeting with Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in London, issued a
statement expressing apprehension that a "hidden hand" was
creating anarchy in order impose a state of emergency and
postpone elections.
6. (C) Speculation about the cause of the attack is already
rife. Like the People's Party, some Pakistanis have been
quick to blame the government for planning the attack so that
President Musharraf can use the current spate of violence as
an excuse to declare a state of emergency and postpone
upcoming parliamentary elections (which will occur later this
year or early next year). Others have attributed the blast as
an act of revenge against the Pakistan People's Party for
their support of the government's actions in the Lal Masjid
operation. Still others -- particularly ethnic Pashtuns --
see the attack as a logical -- and uncontrollable --
extension of the violence already occurring in the Northwest
Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas.
7. (C) Comment: It is still too early to draw firm
conclusions about the cause of the July 18 suicide bombing in
Islamabad, but the tactics (and other information) indicate
it is most likely related to militant groups in the
Pak-Afghan border area. Like the infiltration of radicals
into the Red Mosque, this is another troubling sign that the
violence in the border area can spread. The government's
challenge will be to provide the increased security that
opposition parties and the general public are demanding. End
Comment.
PATTERSON