MGPK01:SITREP 04, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; PM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004702 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017 TAGS: PREL AEMR AMTG ASEC CASC KFLO PINR PK SUBJECT: MGPK01:SITREP 04, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; PM ANNOUNCES ELECTION DATE MAY SLIP; AMBASSADOR CALLS OPPOSITION LEADERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS; STREET STILL QUIET BUT ARRESTS CONTINUE REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4695 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 4694 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 4693 ¶D. ISLAMABAD 4692 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Prime Minister Shaukat publicly announced the timing for assembly elections may slip due to recent events. The Ambassador called several opposition leaders and human rights activists to express her concern regarding the government's crackdown and our commitment to elections on schedule. However, Pakistan remains quiet with no reports of violent or even large demonstrations, but arrests continued. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) In septel, Post recommended that a 7th floor principal contact Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. and call President Musharraf to raise the way in which the state of emergency is being implemented. Post also requests press guidance on the government's crackdown on civil liberties, including the detentions of human rights activists and political opposition members, and the introduction of new restrictions on media. ¶3. (U) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced in a televised address that, while the government remains committed to holding general assembly elections in the new year, the estimated time for those elections may slip because of recent events. (Note: Although expected in January 2008, the Election Commission had not yet set a specific date for assembly elections.) ¶4. (C) The Ambassador made several calls to opposition political party leaders, media representatives and human rights activists today, November 4, to express her concern over the government crackdown on these groups. Among others, the Ambassador spoke with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto. Relieved that she had not been arrested, Bhutto announced that she intended to speak with President Musharraf and would arrive in Islamabad in a few days. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador also called Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to protest the arrest of prominent human rights activist Asma Jehangir, and the November 4 attack on the HQ of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission in Lahore. ¶6. (U) Post is receiving reports that up to 80 anti-government lawyers have been arrested. Approximately 100 lawyers protested without incident in front of the Islamabad Marriott Hotel, in an neighborhood near the Supreme Court. ¶7. (U) AmConsul Peshawar reports that the streets remain calm there. Political parties were also quiet in North West Frontier Province today, although police prevented the Peshawar Lawyers Association from holding a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club earlier this afternoon. Peshawar adds that the Association reportedly intended to call for demonstrations. ¶8. (C) AmConsul Karachi reports that attorneys are planning a demonstration at the Karachi press club at 1700 today, and that a number of opposition leaders and attorneys have been arrested in Balochistan. PATTERSON