Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD5267
2007-12-14 05:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
GOP URGES U.S. TO BACK OFF PUBLIC CRITICISM
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005267
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: GOP URGES U.S. TO BACK OFF PUBLIC CRITICISM
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005267
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: GOP URGES U.S. TO BACK OFF PUBLIC CRITICISM
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) On December 5, MFA convoked Polcouns and the
Ministry of Information convoked Press Attach to complain
about public statements by in-country Mission officials.
MFA's Acting Director of Americas Sohail Mahmood told
Polcouns that our consuls general were making "inappropriate"
"political" statements to the press following meetings with
opposition politicians. The MFA had no problem with our
meeting with opposition figures, but urged that we stop
making press comments that were seen as unnecessarily
provocative. (Note, Foreign Minister Khan made a similar
appeal to Ambassador in November.)
2. (C) On the same day, Ministry of Information External
Publicity Wing DG Mansour Suhail convoked Press Attach to
express concern over recent statements by Embassy officials
on media restrictions. He specifically mentioned statements
the Press Attach made about the urgency of restoring full
media freedom after her visit to Power99 FM radio, which had
been off the air and all its equipment confiscated since the
declaration of the state of emergency on November 3. Suhail,
without providing specific charges, said repeatedly that the
radio/TV stations that had been taken off the air had
"violated the laws of Pakistan." He added that it was not
appropriate for foreign diplomats to comment on these
subjects.
3. (C) Both Mahmood and Suhail defended the GOP's recent
actions under the state of emergency as necessary and noted
President Musharraf's efforts to develop free media in
Pakistan. Mahmood repeated Musharraf's public urging that
the West recognize that Pakistan needs time to develop fully
as a democracy.
4. (C) The GOP then released a press statement admonishing
both the U.S. and EU delegations for talking to the press
after meeting with opposition candidates.
5. (C) Comment: Mission is continuing to express publicly
USG policy to promote free and fair elections and urge the
GOP to lift the state of emergency, free all political
detainees, and restore media freedoms. We view these
"warnings" as part of the ongoing political campaign, in
which there has been heightened sensitivity to perceived
western and Saudi influence in the political process. We
suspect the warnings also reflect President Musharraf's
annoyance that we continue to press on restoring media
freedom.
PATTERSON
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: GOP URGES U.S. TO BACK OFF PUBLIC CRITICISM
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) On December 5, MFA convoked Polcouns and the
Ministry of Information convoked Press Attach to complain
about public statements by in-country Mission officials.
MFA's Acting Director of Americas Sohail Mahmood told
Polcouns that our consuls general were making "inappropriate"
"political" statements to the press following meetings with
opposition politicians. The MFA had no problem with our
meeting with opposition figures, but urged that we stop
making press comments that were seen as unnecessarily
provocative. (Note, Foreign Minister Khan made a similar
appeal to Ambassador in November.)
2. (C) On the same day, Ministry of Information External
Publicity Wing DG Mansour Suhail convoked Press Attach to
express concern over recent statements by Embassy officials
on media restrictions. He specifically mentioned statements
the Press Attach made about the urgency of restoring full
media freedom after her visit to Power99 FM radio, which had
been off the air and all its equipment confiscated since the
declaration of the state of emergency on November 3. Suhail,
without providing specific charges, said repeatedly that the
radio/TV stations that had been taken off the air had
"violated the laws of Pakistan." He added that it was not
appropriate for foreign diplomats to comment on these
subjects.
3. (C) Both Mahmood and Suhail defended the GOP's recent
actions under the state of emergency as necessary and noted
President Musharraf's efforts to develop free media in
Pakistan. Mahmood repeated Musharraf's public urging that
the West recognize that Pakistan needs time to develop fully
as a democracy.
4. (C) The GOP then released a press statement admonishing
both the U.S. and EU delegations for talking to the press
after meeting with opposition candidates.
5. (C) Comment: Mission is continuing to express publicly
USG policy to promote free and fair elections and urge the
GOP to lift the state of emergency, free all political
detainees, and restore media freedoms. We view these
"warnings" as part of the ongoing political campaign, in
which there has been heightened sensitivity to perceived
western and Saudi influence in the political process. We
suspect the warnings also reflect President Musharraf's
annoyance that we continue to press on restoring media
freedom.
PATTERSON
PATTERSON