MGPK01:SITREP 05, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; LAWYERS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 004713 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017 TAGS: PREL AEMR AMTG ASEC CASC KFLO PINR PK SUBJECT: MGPK01:SITREP 05, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; LAWYERS' PROTESTS GROW REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4702 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 4695 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 4694 ¶D. ISLAMABAD 4693 ¶E. ISLAMABAD 4692 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Despite growing scattered protests by lawyers, the streets in Pakistan remain largely quiet. The number of lawyers, human rights activists, and opposition figures detained by the Government of Pakistan continues to grow. During a briefing for the diplomatic corps, Musharraf appeared unfocused and defensive. Ambassador raised human rights and press freedom issues and the UK High Commissioner pressed for an elections timetable. In response, Musharraf offered no assurances. The GOP continues to block the transmission of some private TV news stations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Musharraf spoke today at 1100 local time to the full diplomatic corps. The hour-long monologue was rambling and highly personalized, and focused more on his reasons for the 12 March sacking of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry than for his 3 November suspension of Pakistan's Constitution. Ambassador raised USG concerns about media freedom and detention of human rights activists. In response, Musharraf suggested that Asma Jahangir, the head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, was mentally unbalanced and should learn some patience. Responding to the UK High Commissioner for dates on a parliamentary elections and doffing his uniform, Musharraf offered no assurances. ¶3. (SBU) Lawyers, protests in Lahore and Karachi are growing, according to mission sources and broadcast media. Police used tear gas to break up protests of 100 lawyers in Lahore; they have now arrested approximately 300 lawyers. In Karachi, police have reportedly arrested more than 100 protesting lawyers. In Rawalpindi, approximately 50 protesting lawyers were arrested. A demonstration of approximately 150 lawyers in Peshawar remained peaceful. In Balochistan, police stopped around 200 lawyers from protesting at the Balochistan High Court building in Quetta, and arrested thirteen lawyers, a representative from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and a cameraman from the Associated Press. ¶4. (U) An American citizen, Devin Theriot Orr, attending a Human Rights Commission meeting yesterday in Lahore, was detained along with up to 70 other human rights activists at approximately 1400 local time. Mr. Orr has now been released. ¶5. (SBU) Round-ups of political party activists continues. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) reports that as many as 25 district-level members have been arrested, as have a similar number of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) and Jamaat Islami (JI) district leaders. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reports that 500 party members have been detained in Lahore alone and that Javed Hashmi, the acting PML-N president, has been moved to Mianwali jail. The leader of the Awami Nationalist Party (ANP) and other party activists have been arrested, as have leaders of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP). ¶6. (C) Some of the religious and nationalist parties are vowing to join protests, but the PPP and the JUI-F have not agreed on a plan of action. The Union of Journalists met 4 November and decided to hold off on protests. It appears most players are waiting for a decision from the PPP on whether to join street protests by lawyers. We have been advised that Bhutto plans to come to Islamabad for a possible meeting with Musharraf to discuss a power-sharing deal, possibly as early as today. ¶7. (C) Office of Defense Representative Major General and RAO met with Vice Chief of Army Staff General Kayani and expressed US concern over the heavy handed tactics used in implementing emergency measures. They expressed deep concern that Musharraf has not confirmed his commitments to resign as Chief of Army Staff and hold elections in January. They urged ISLAMABAD 00004713 002 OF 002 that Pakistan avoid actions that could jeopardize the US-Pakistan relationship. Kayani took the comments on board, but did not respond. ¶8. (U) The GOP continues to block the transmission of some private TV news stations. Newspapers were distributed today with no problems. Phone service is working. PATTERSON