Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KARACHI755
2007-10-29 10:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:  

SINDH GOVERNOR ON BHUTTO BOMBING AND INVESTIGATION

Tags:  ASEC PGOV PINR PREL PTER PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 3714
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0127
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1697
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RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4273
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0006
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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).

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