Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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08ISLAMABAD1401 | 2008-04-01 15:18:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Islamabad |
VZCZCXRO0790 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #1401/01 0921518 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011518Z APR 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6249 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8376 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7598 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3055 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9430 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5193 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3913 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001401 |
1. (C) Summary: PM Gillani in his first week is already demonstrating what Pakistanis describe as "our tendency to jump into the river first and figure out how deep it is afterwards." Faced with immediate opposition, Gillani has had to backtrack on pronouncements that the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) governing the tribal areas would be abolished and the "black" media laws restricting press activities would continue. In what appears to be a growing trend, the government quickly referred these issues -- and the matter of restoring the deposed judiciary -- to committees or ministries for further consideration. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) already has had to contend with an obstinate coalition partner -- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) -- whose nine ministers refused to recognize President Pervez Musharraf at yesterday's swearing-in ceremony. End Summary. PML-N Pouts -------------------------- 2. (U) Though the nine PML-N ministers agreed, under last month's Murree Declaration, to be sworn in by President Pervez Musharraf, they used the March 31 swearing-in event to make some explicit political points. All nine wore black armbands in protest against Musharraf, who they maintain holds his office illegally. They also refused to stand when Musharraf entered the room, shake his hand, or stay for the subsequent luncheon hosted in their honor. PML-N Spokesman Siddiqui Farooq stated to the press after the event that the PML-N snubbed Musharraf "in protest because an unconstitutional president was sitting up there and our ministers had to take oath under him." Committee on the Judiciary -------------------------- 3. (C) Yesterday's swearing-in was followed by the new GOP's first cabinet meeting. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman announced afterward that a joint committee of all coalition parties would be formed to submit recommendations on how best to restore the judiciary deposed by Musharraf. Leading the ad hoc committee would be new Law Minister Farooq Naek (of the PPP); however, there was no announcement as to which other representatives from the parties would form the committee. There was no deadline set for the committee's work, another sign the PPP plans a slow resolution of the issue. Jumping In and Back Pedaling -------------------------- 4. (U) The new cabinet also decided late yesterday to form a second ad hoc committee to review the abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), the law that governs the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) (See Peshawar septel). The creation of this committee was in response to Gillani's surprise March 29 announcement that the FCR would be immediately abolished. The announcement -- part of Gillani's "First 100 Days" speech following the National Assembly's vote of confidence -- failed to mention what law, if any, would replace the FCR, drawing wide criticism in the press and by the public. 5. (C) Gillani also announced March 29 that Musharraf's November 3 amendments to Pakistan's media regulations, enforced by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), would remain in place. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari then reversed his PM, announcing off the cuff that all these amendments would be repealed. In yesterday's cabinet meeting, however, they decided that the Information Ministry would prepare draft proposals regarding which provisions would be repealed or how the regulations would be further amended. Speaking to PolOff March 31, PEMRA Chairman Mushtaq Malik revealed that the new GOP was also considering placing PEMRA under the Information Ministry, which had jurisdiction over PEMRA until the last days of the caretaker government, when PEMRA was moved under the Prime Minister's control. ISLAMABAD 00001401 002 OF 002 6. (C) Comment: The new PPP-led GOP, in its first 100 hours, has already made some missteps, unilaterally and unexpectedly announcing the abolition of some key federal laws and regulations. These missteps are to be expected from a party that has been outside government for eleven years. The first cabinet meeting appropriately patched up the new PM's gaffes. More worrisome, however, is the PML-N's uncompromising and provocative stance concerning anything having to do with Musharraf. The PPP's coalition "partner" appears bent on making governing as difficult as possible. End comment. BODDE |