Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4713
2007-11-05 09:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
MGPK01:SITREP 05, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD; LAWYERS'
how-toVZCZCXRO7803 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #4713/01 3090931 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050931Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2969 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7690 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6610 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2099 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7854 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3909 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 2435 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3171 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 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)
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
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