Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4167
2007-09-27 11:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN ELECTION COMMISSION CLOSES NOMINATION LIST
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN ELECTION COMMISSION CLOSES NOMINATION LIST
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4094
B. ISLAMABAD 4148
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN ELECTION COMMISSION CLOSES NOMINATION LIST
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4094
B. ISLAMABAD 4148
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) accepted
nominations from forty-one presidential candidates, including
President Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
in-country leader Amin Fahim, by the noon September 27 filing
deadline. These 41 included candidates from Islamabad (13),
Punjab (11),Sindh (14),and the Northwest Frontier Province
(3).
2. (U) The Election Commission will vet the candidates by
September 29 and then oversee the October 6 voting process in
the National and Provincial Assemblies. The Supreme Court is
expected to hear final arguments September 28 in the bundle
of cases challenging Musharraf's eligibility to be a
candidate for re-election.
3. (U) Opposition parties continue to debate whether to
resign from the National and Provincial Assemblies in advance
of the presidential vote. Members of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan
Muslim League-N party and some members of the MMA religious
block parties are already tendering their resignations to
party leaders throughout the country. Extensive road
closures and security checkpoints in Islamabad prevented any
significant demonstrations today.
4. (C) Comment. At an iftar hosted by outgoing ISI Chief
Kayani September 26, Musharraf defended his role in bringing
real democracy to Pakistan. But the government remains
focused on whether the PPP will resign from the National
Assembly and weaken Musharraf's credibility in winning
re-election. Opposition parties have threatened to resign in
the past without following through, and it is difficult to
see how the PPP can walk out when Fahim is an alternative
candidate. All eyes will be on tomorrow's expected Supreme
Court decision on Musharraf's eligibility. End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN ELECTION COMMISSION CLOSES NOMINATION LIST
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4094
B. ISLAMABAD 4148
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) accepted
nominations from forty-one presidential candidates, including
President Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
in-country leader Amin Fahim, by the noon September 27 filing
deadline. These 41 included candidates from Islamabad (13),
Punjab (11),Sindh (14),and the Northwest Frontier Province
(3).
2. (U) The Election Commission will vet the candidates by
September 29 and then oversee the October 6 voting process in
the National and Provincial Assemblies. The Supreme Court is
expected to hear final arguments September 28 in the bundle
of cases challenging Musharraf's eligibility to be a
candidate for re-election.
3. (U) Opposition parties continue to debate whether to
resign from the National and Provincial Assemblies in advance
of the presidential vote. Members of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan
Muslim League-N party and some members of the MMA religious
block parties are already tendering their resignations to
party leaders throughout the country. Extensive road
closures and security checkpoints in Islamabad prevented any
significant demonstrations today.
4. (C) Comment. At an iftar hosted by outgoing ISI Chief
Kayani September 26, Musharraf defended his role in bringing
real democracy to Pakistan. But the government remains
focused on whether the PPP will resign from the National
Assembly and weaken Musharraf's credibility in winning
re-election. Opposition parties have threatened to resign in
the past without following through, and it is difficult to
see how the PPP can walk out when Fahim is an alternative
candidate. All eyes will be on tomorrow's expected Supreme
Court decision on Musharraf's eligibility. End comment.
PATTERSON