Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4702
2007-11-04 14:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
MGPK01:SITREP 04, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; PM
how-toVZCZCXRO7385 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #4702 3081409 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041409Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2959 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7686 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6609 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2096 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7850 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3905 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 2429 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3170 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
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)
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
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