Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4947
2007-11-20 13:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN GENERAL ELECTIONS CALLED FOR JANUARY 8
how-toVZCZCXRO1166 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #4947 3241348 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 201348Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3344 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 7788 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2279 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8123 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4114 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2657 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 004947
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN GENERAL ELECTIONS CALLED FOR JANUARY 8
REF: ISLAMABAD 4890
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 004947
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN GENERAL ELECTIONS CALLED FOR JANUARY 8
REF: ISLAMABAD 4890
1. (SBU) Summary: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi
Muhammad Farooq announced November 20 that Pakistan will hold
general elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies on
January 8, 2008. Opposition parties were quick to question the
credibility of elections under the current state of emergency. End
summary.
2. (U) Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad
Farooq called Pakistan's general elections for January 8, 2008. All
342 National Assembly seats will be filled -- 272 are directly
contested districts and 70 are reserved for women and specific
minority groups. Party candidates will contest a total of 728 seats
in the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Northwest Frontier
Province (NWFP) and Balochistan.
3. (U) Farooq also announced November 20 the election timetable.
Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) will accept nomination papers
up to November 26, will then scrutinize candidates to confirm their
eligibility, and will issue the final list of candidates on December
16.
4. (U) In his November 20 remarks, Farooq assured the Pakistani
public that these general elections would be "transparent in every
respect." He requested political parties' cooperation. Lastly,
Farooq said Pakistan welcomed international observers.
5. (U) Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was the first
to react publicly to Farooq's election timetable. PML-N Information
Secretary Ahsan Iqbal called the election announcement "a fraud."
SIPDIS
He questioned how campaigns were to go forward with opposition
leaders jailed, under house arrest, or exiled. PML-N Chairperson
Raja Zafarul Haq held out the possibility that his party would
boycott the elections if held under a state of emergency.
6. (SBU) Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Spokesman
Farhatullah Babar stated that his party had yet to decide if they
would contest elections under emergency restrictions. He added that
the PPP hoped to consult with other opposition parties. Other
opposition parties withheld public comments, echoing PPP's line that
they had yet to review, consult or decide on the matter. Most of
these other parties have indicated privately to EmbOffs that they
too will likely stand for elections, with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) the
possible exception.
7. (SBU) Comment: Today's announcement of the electoral schedule
poses a dilemma for the opposition. Some of them clearly want to
boycott the elections, while others appear willing to contest
elections that they simultaneously complain are unfair. Most of the
opposition parties will wait for the PPP's decision. End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN GENERAL ELECTIONS CALLED FOR JANUARY 8
REF: ISLAMABAD 4890
1. (SBU) Summary: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi
Muhammad Farooq announced November 20 that Pakistan will hold
general elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies on
January 8, 2008. Opposition parties were quick to question the
credibility of elections under the current state of emergency. End
summary.
2. (U) Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad
Farooq called Pakistan's general elections for January 8, 2008. All
342 National Assembly seats will be filled -- 272 are directly
contested districts and 70 are reserved for women and specific
minority groups. Party candidates will contest a total of 728 seats
in the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Northwest Frontier
Province (NWFP) and Balochistan.
3. (U) Farooq also announced November 20 the election timetable.
Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) will accept nomination papers
up to November 26, will then scrutinize candidates to confirm their
eligibility, and will issue the final list of candidates on December
16.
4. (U) In his November 20 remarks, Farooq assured the Pakistani
public that these general elections would be "transparent in every
respect." He requested political parties' cooperation. Lastly,
Farooq said Pakistan welcomed international observers.
5. (U) Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was the first
to react publicly to Farooq's election timetable. PML-N Information
Secretary Ahsan Iqbal called the election announcement "a fraud."
SIPDIS
He questioned how campaigns were to go forward with opposition
leaders jailed, under house arrest, or exiled. PML-N Chairperson
Raja Zafarul Haq held out the possibility that his party would
boycott the elections if held under a state of emergency.
6. (SBU) Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Spokesman
Farhatullah Babar stated that his party had yet to decide if they
would contest elections under emergency restrictions. He added that
the PPP hoped to consult with other opposition parties. Other
opposition parties withheld public comments, echoing PPP's line that
they had yet to review, consult or decide on the matter. Most of
these other parties have indicated privately to EmbOffs that they
too will likely stand for elections, with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) the
possible exception.
7. (SBU) Comment: Today's announcement of the electoral schedule
poses a dilemma for the opposition. Some of them clearly want to
boycott the elections, while others appear willing to contest
elections that they simultaneously complain are unfair. Most of the
opposition parties will wait for the PPP's decision. End comment.
PATTERSON