Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4382
2007-10-10 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
BHUTTO SEEKS TO CLAIM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEAT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004382
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV CVIS PK
SUBJECT: BHUTTO SEEKS TO CLAIM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEAT
REF: ISLAMABAD 4309
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004382
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV CVIS PK
SUBJECT: BHUTTO SEEKS TO CLAIM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEAT
REF: ISLAMABAD 4309
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
¶1. (U) Summary: Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto
has renewed her suit for a National Assembly seat after the
National Reconciliation Ordinance voided all corruption
charges and convictions against her. The GOP, for its part,
continues to fulfill its side of the Musharraf-Bhutto "deal,"
by requesting that InterPol cancel notices on Bhutto and her
husband. End summary.
Bhutto Asks for Seat
¶2. (U) Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto
renewed October 8 her 2002 petition to the Sindh High Court,
asking it to award her the National Assembly seat originally
reserved for her in the 2002 general elections. PPP legal
counsel Farooq Naek argued to the provincial court that the
October 5 National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) withdraws
all corruption cases against Bhutto and actually voids her
conviction under another executive ordinance. The conviction
had barred her from serving in the legislature. In 2002,
Bhutto was at the top of the PPP's list as a candidate for
one of the 40 National Assembly seats reserved for women.
InterPol Notified to Withdraw Notices
¶3. (U) Meanwhile, the GOP has withdrawn the "red notices"
with InterPol issued against Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali
Zardari. Interior Ministry spokesperson Javed Iqbal Cheema
stated, "Whatever the government requires to fulfill the
norms of reconciliation will be done."
¶4. (C) Comment: Bhutto's legal move should be viewed as a
preamble to her scheduled October 18 return when she will
resume hands-on control of Pakistan People's Party
activities. It will also re-establish her presence in the
National Assembly, where she ultimately needs to build
support for a constitutional amendment that allows her to
potentially serve another term as prime minister. End
comment.
PATTERSON