SINDH GOVERNOR ON BHUTTO BOMBING AND INVESTIGATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000755 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PINR PREL PTER PK SUBJECT: SINDH GOVERNOR ON BHUTTO BOMBING AND INVESTIGATION Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On October 23, the Ambassador and Consul General (CG) met with Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ebad. The Governor provided his official perspective on the security issues surrounding the October 19 attack on Pakistan People,s Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto and the subsequent investigation. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador and CG met with the Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, on October 23. (Note: The Sindh Governor is a member of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).) The Governor provided his perspective on the issues surrounding security arrangements for Bhutto,s October 19 motorcade, as well as the ongoing investigation into the bombing attack on Bhutto. -------------- BHUTTO ATTACK NO SURPRISE -------------- ¶3. (C) The Governor began by suggesting the attack on Bhutto was not wholly surprising given existing threats against her and previous attacks on the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The Governor also noted that Bhutto had previously made some "injudicious8 remarks likely to arouse anger, such as speaking out on the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) action; saying that American military forces would be allowed to enter Waziristan; and that A.Q. Khan could be questioned by the International Atomic Energy Agency. ¶4. (C) The Governor dismissed Bhutto,s claims that people in the GoP were behind the attack. He said a terrorist organization was clearly responsible; no political party used suicide bombers. The challenge in preventing such attacks, he said, was that terrorists have blended into the local populace. -------------- - SECURITY DISAGREEMENTS OVER BHUTTO,S LOGISTICS -------------- - ¶5. (C) The Governor stated that, after the GoP received threat information against Bhutto, a GoP security team worked directly with the PPP security team, sharing information and attempting to be cooperative where possible. For instance, whenever Bhutto requested a particular police officer for her security detail, the GoP complied. However, the Governor added that Bhutto,s request that she receive the same level of security as that provided to the President and Prime Minister was rejected because she no longer holds office. ¶6. (C) The Governor confirmed that the GoP team had recommended Bhutto follow the standard security procedures for VIPs, i.e., unannounced routes and timing, fast movement of motorcade, unidentified vehicles, etc. The Sindh Home Department had also suggested that the public rally be held at Terminal 1 upon her arrival at the Karachi airport. After the rally, they suggested, she would move directly and quickly to Bilawal House (Bhutto,s home and PPP headquarters). Supporters would then gather at the Mazar-e-Quaid (Mohd Ali Jinnah,s mausoleum) where Bhutto would greet them. ¶7. (C) According to the Governor, Bhutto rejected all of these suggestions, noting that she had certain political needs. Thus, her arrival time and motorcade route was published in the press; her vehicle was also featured in press coverage; and, the motorcade traveled very, very slowly. Bhutto also insisted that her own security surround her vehicle, creating in effect a &human shield.8 The GoP would not allow these supporters, whom they saw as untrained and uncertified personnel, to carry firearms. (The Governor added that the Sindh Home Secretary had finally given the GoP,s recommendations in writing to PPP officials.) -------------- THE INVESTIGATION -------------- ¶8. (C) The Governor has asked the Sindh Home Secretary to consolidate the findings of the bombing investigation for public distribution. He went on to address a number of questions surrounding the attack. KARACHI 00000755 002 OF 002 -- Number of suicide bombers. The Governor said that there was definitely one, and maybe two. -- Jammers malfunction. According to the Governor, the GoP provided Bhutto with ECMs (&jammers8) but the PPP insisted on installing the devices on the vehicles. He said the batteries of the jammers are re-charged by the vehicle's engine and that the convoy vehicles were moving too slowly to re-charge the jammers, batteries. The Governor complained that this fact has not been mentioned by Bhutto,s security. -- Lights On. The Governor ordered the Home Department to investigate whether street lights were off at time of the attack, as Bhutto,s camp alleged. The Karachi Electric Supply Company reviewed tapes of that night and verified that the lights had been on. The Governor stated that this report will be given to the press. -------------- BHUTTO,S INVESTIGATION CONCERNS -------------- ¶9. (C) Bhutto has stated that she wants foreign officials involved in the investigation. The GoP has rejected this request, citing lack of familiarity with Pakistan, the culture and the city of Karachi. Rather, the GoP has suggested that other countries could assist in checking the forensics or reviewing the report. The Governor accused Bhutto of politicizing the issue by publicly asking for foreign investigators, instead of making the request quietly. ¶10. (C) The Governor assured the Ambassador and CG that the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) is a moderate party like the PPP. In fact, he noted, the MQM had been the first political party to rally publicly (April 2007) against extremism and terrorism. ANSKE