Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD5018
2007-11-26 13:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN: UPDATE ON ATTORNEYS AHSAN AND MALIK
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: UPDATE ON ATTORNEYS AHSAN AND MALIK
REF: ISLAMABAD 4994
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: UPDATE ON ATTORNEYS AHSAN AND MALIK
REF: ISLAMABAD 4994
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary. Both the current and former Pakistan
Supreme Court Bar Association Presidents have been released
from jail. Aitzaz Ahsan has been transferred to house arrest
in Lahore where he was allowed to file his election
nomination papers. Munir Malik was transferred to the
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and released from
detention; he is undergoing dialysis for a chronic liver
disease and gave a TV interview from his hospital bedside.
End Summary.
AITZAZ AHSAN
--------------
2. (U) On November 25, Aitzaz Ahsan, the Pakistan Supreme
Court Bar Association president, was escorted by police to
the sessions court in Lahore to file his nomination for a
National Assembly seat for the January 8 elections. This
registration was conducted after the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP) leader was moved from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi,
where he had been held since the proclamation of emergency,
to his home in Zaman Park (Lahore),dubbed by authorities as
a "sub-jail." While he and four other PPP members submitted
their papers, reportedly large numbers of lawyers expressed
support for Aitzaz and chanted anti-government slogans.
(Note: This is a case of particular interest to Senator
Conrad.)
MUNIR MALIK
--------------
3. (C) On November 24, former Supreme Court Bar Association
president Munir Malik was moved from an Attock district jail
to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for
treatment for chronic liver disease. The GOP reportedly has
now released him from detention status. His relatives were
denied visitation rights to the jail by the Ministry of
Interior, and there has been press speculation that he was
tortured. (Note: In repeated meetings with Emboffs over the
past few months, Malik was intoxicated, even in his Supreme
Court office. While this does not negate any allegations of
torture, it does give credence to the government's claim that
Malik is suffering from chronic liver disease.) From his
hospital bed November 25, Malik gave an interview on Dawn TV
criticizing the government.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: UPDATE ON ATTORNEYS AHSAN AND MALIK
REF: ISLAMABAD 4994
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary. Both the current and former Pakistan
Supreme Court Bar Association Presidents have been released
from jail. Aitzaz Ahsan has been transferred to house arrest
in Lahore where he was allowed to file his election
nomination papers. Munir Malik was transferred to the
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and released from
detention; he is undergoing dialysis for a chronic liver
disease and gave a TV interview from his hospital bedside.
End Summary.
AITZAZ AHSAN
--------------
2. (U) On November 25, Aitzaz Ahsan, the Pakistan Supreme
Court Bar Association president, was escorted by police to
the sessions court in Lahore to file his nomination for a
National Assembly seat for the January 8 elections. This
registration was conducted after the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP) leader was moved from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi,
where he had been held since the proclamation of emergency,
to his home in Zaman Park (Lahore),dubbed by authorities as
a "sub-jail." While he and four other PPP members submitted
their papers, reportedly large numbers of lawyers expressed
support for Aitzaz and chanted anti-government slogans.
(Note: This is a case of particular interest to Senator
Conrad.)
MUNIR MALIK
--------------
3. (C) On November 24, former Supreme Court Bar Association
president Munir Malik was moved from an Attock district jail
to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for
treatment for chronic liver disease. The GOP reportedly has
now released him from detention status. His relatives were
denied visitation rights to the jail by the Ministry of
Interior, and there has been press speculation that he was
tortured. (Note: In repeated meetings with Emboffs over the
past few months, Malik was intoxicated, even in his Supreme
Court office. While this does not negate any allegations of
torture, it does give credence to the government's claim that
Malik is suffering from chronic liver disease.) From his
hospital bed November 25, Malik gave an interview on Dawn TV
criticizing the government.
PATTERSON