MGPK01: SITREP 17, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD: MUSHARRAF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 004818

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AEMR AMGT CASC KFLO PINR
SUBJECT: MGPK01: SITREP 17, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD: MUSHARRAF
TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE; BHUTTO HEADS FOR LAHORE

REF: ISLAMABAD 4816

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: President Musharraf was scheduled to give a
press conference at 1400 local time; we will provide
immediate follow-up information on his remarks for the
Department. Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto
moves to Lahore today in preparation for a planned "long
march" November 13 from Lahore to Islamabad. Police are
blocking PPP faithful from welcoming her at the Lahore
Airport. In a reception for the diplomatic corps November 10,
she reiterated demands that Musharraf announce a firm date
for elections and his resignation from the Army. In response
to an unfavorable editorial, the GOP decided to expel three
Daily Telegraph reports; two have left the country and a
third is expected to depart today. Sky and Fox news are back
on the air, reportedly because they have not been critical of
Musharraf; BBC, CNN and most local TV news cable channels
remain blocked. Arrests of political opposition leaders
continue although there are reports that hundreds of lawyers
have been released on bail. Media reports the Pakistan-Iran
pipeline deal has been finalized and will be signed within a
month. Mission operations continue normally. End summary.


2. (U) The GOP amended November 10 the Army Act of 1952.
Under the amended act, the Army will be able to try civilians
on charges such as treason, sedition, attacking army
personnel, "assaulting the president," and "giving statements
conducive to public mischief." Under the Provisional
Constitutional Order, the amendment is applicable
immediately, without legislative approval. The GOP
originally planned this amendment in response to former Chief
Justice Chaudhry's decisions to release "disappeared"
citizens, who have been held without charge. In the process,
the Court had released several known or suspected terrorists.
The amendment was considered a way to bring terrorists
detained without charge to trial in military courts, which
have less stringent evidentiary rules.


3. (U) In an open letter to People's Party (PPP) leader
Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif stated
that his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party would be
willing to participate in an all party opposition conference.
Bhutto has yet to respond publicly, but she reached out this
week to the religious parties.


4. (U) Bhutto travels today to Lahore today in preparation
for her announced "long march" from Lahore to Islamabad on
November 13. The government is sure to block the march.
Speaking to the diplomatic corps late November 10, Bhutto
reiterated her demands on Musharraf to hold elections on time
and to resign as Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Police are
blocking PPP supporters from entering the Lahore Airport to
welcome her.


5. (C) Musharraf convoked November 10 his corps commanders,
the first such reported meeting since the imposition of
emergency. Repeating his lines from the November 5 briefing
to ambassadors and November 7 meeting with National Assembly
members, Musharraf reportedly argued that his actions were
justified because "the judiciary had given unnecessary relief
to terrorists and anti-social elements." Musharraf committed
to elections "as soon as possible."


6. (U) Local newspapers are reporting that 350 Lahore
lawyers have been released on bail; however, police continue
to arrest opposition party members. Also, it appears that
the GOP has started to transfer lawyers, opposition party
leaders and human rights activists from one jail to others,
making it more difficult for Embassy (not to mention famiily
members) to track these key contacts.


7. (U) The GOP reportedly has forcibly moved (former)
Supreme Court Justice Javed Iqbal, who was the presiding
justice hearing the case against Musharraf's re-election,
from Islamabad to his home in Quetta. When Attorney General
Malik Qayyum informed the Ambassador November 7 that justices
would no longer be under house arrest, he added that the GOP
expected them to leave the capital for their hometowns.

ISLAMABAD 00004818 002 OF 002




8. (C) Sky and Fox news are being allowed to broadcast,
reportedly because they have not been critical of Musharraf;
BBC CNN and the largest of Pakistan's local TV news channels
continue to be blocked. According to the ARY TV Chief, his
station, along with Geo, Aaj and Dawn, will refuse to sign up
to the government's new media code of conduct.


9. (C) In retaliation for an unfavorable editorial written
in London, three journalists from the UK's Telegraph
newspaper were ordered out of Pakistan. One journalist has
already left; the other two, including the Telegraph's
long-time bureau chief Islamabad Wilkinson, are scheduled to
depart November 11. The editorial, said Musharraf "may be a
son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch." The
Information Ministry gave the official reason for the
expulsion: "They were using foul and abusive language against
Pakistan and Pakistan's leadership." Other western
journalists with whom our spokesperson met fear this is the
beginning of a larger crackdown by the GOP; they asked for
continued public support from western governments.


10. (U) Sunday editorials in local newspapers highlight
negative business climate created and inflation pressure
caused by the imposition of emergency.


11. (U) The media reports that Pakistan and Iran have
finalized the proposed $7.4 billion pipeline deal; sources
said the remaining technical details will be resolved within
a month. (Post has reported extensively on our efforts to
dissuade the GOP from completing this deal.)

PATTERSON