AMCITS SHOULD AVOID KARACHI OCTOBER 18

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 004439 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PREL PGOV PK SUBJECT: AMCITS SHOULD AVOID KARACHI OCTOBER 18 ¶1. (SBU) Expecting up to a half million people to turn out for the October 18 arrival in Karachi of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto, the U.S. Consulate in Karachi has issued the below Demonstration Notice (para 2). Bhutto's arrival party alone will be in the hundreds, including an estimated 150 international and local journalists/reporters. About 3,500 police and troops are being called out to control the crowd and provide security for Bhutto, who has received death threats from radical Islamists. For security reasons, the government plans to jam cellphones, at least along the route. The U.S. Consulate in Karachi will be on minimal staffing for the day. We are concerned about the large numbers of American citizens who may be traveling with her and could well get caught up in demonstrations. These include both press and some private citizens. ¶2. (U) Quote: Demonstration Notice. The media reports that Ms. Benazir Bhutto is scheduled to arrive at the Karachi airport on Thursday, October 18, 2007. To receive Ms. Bhutto, large crowds are expected to gather at the airport, surrounding routes, the areas around Mazar-e-Quaid (Jinnah's tomb) and all major roads leading to Clifton. American citizens may wish to avoid the airport area, Shahra-e-Faisal and major roads leading to the airport as well as roads in and around her party headquarters, as road closures and severe traffic congestion are expected. End quote. PATTERSON