CODEL TIERNEY MEETS WITH AHSAN IQBAL, PML-N

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001450 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV PK PREL SUBJECT: CODEL TIERNEY MEETS WITH AHSAN IQBAL, PML-N INFORMATION SECRETARY Classified By: Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On March 27, Codel Tierney met with Ahsan Iqbal, a newly elected National Assembly member and former Chief Coordinator and Information Secretary for the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N). Iqbal discussed the need for the deposed judiciary to be reinstated, that the War on Terror must be ended, and how nuclear technology transfers should be improved. End summary. ¶2. (C) Codel Tierney (Representatives John Tierney, Keith Ellison, Jim Moran, Betty McCollum, Maurice Hinchey, and Barbara Cubin),accompanied by Polcouns, met March 27 with Ahsan Iqbal, the newly elected National Assembly member and former Chief Coordinator and Information Secretary for the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N),and congratulated him on his new position within the National Assembly. Representative Tierney also acknowledged that the February elections displayed great maturity among the Pakistani citizenry. Iqbal agreed, saying that the democratic, moderate populace was tired of what was taking place in Pakistan and achieved change through their vote. Restoration of the Judiciary -------------- ¶3. (C) Representative Ellison asked about the role of the judiciary under this new government. Iqbal stressed that federation cannot happen without the rule of law, pointing to the works of Abraham Lincoln as an example. He also explained that upon the creation of Pakistan, the judiciary had been weak due to many impositions of martial law, starting in 1958. However, upon the dismissal of the former Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9, 2007, by President Musharraf, the true idea of an independent judiciary came to being as the lawyers took to the streets, protesting this "extra-constitutional" measure and executive interference in the courts. This eventually led to Musharraf's November 3 State of Emergency (SOE) and the removal of those judges who refused to take the new, Musharraf-led oath. ¶4. (C) Iqbal continued, saying that the new ruling coalition had plans for the reinstatement of the deposed judges. Because the deposing of the judges was done unconstitutionally in Iqbal's opinion - only a simple resolution in the Parliament declaring the removal as unconstitutional is needed. He also explained that the PML-N and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) drafted such a resolution, calling for the reinstatement of the judges within 30 days of the government's formation. He stressed that without this reinstatement, the NGOs, civil society, and minority parties would lose faith and use other methods to achieve their goals. Ending the War on Terror -------------- ¶5. (C) Codel Tierney asked how the US and Pakistan should proceed in the War on Terror. Iqbal noted that the true key was a better understanding of the dynamics at play. According to Iqbal, Musharraf justified his presidency through the War on Terror, and without it, his time would be over. Therefore, military action against extremists must end in Pakistan. Because of an over-reliance on the military, the political structures have been marginalized while the social sectors around the country, especially in the tribal fighting areas, have been weakened. This improper seven-year pursuit has resulted in thousands of innocent deaths and too much collateral damage. Additionally, Iqbal believed that if the WOT is not brought to an end soon, the relationship between Pakistan and the US will be permanently damaged. Musharraf Stepping Down? -------------- ¶6. (C) Representatives Moran and Ellison both asked about the possibilities of Musharraf stepping down from office. Iqbal noted that no one really knows what the President would do in the future, but he used two examples to show how he feels that Musharraf is losing ground rapidly. First, during the SOE, Musharraf issued a Code of Conduct for the media that ISLAMABAD 00001450 002 OF 002 essentially called for strict self-censorship. Although the law remains in place, Iqbal pointed out that all media outlets are blatantly violating the law because the Musharraf government has no power to enforce the law. Second, the deposed judges remained detained under Musharraf's hand until the day that the National Assembly elected the PPP-affiliated Prime Minister, who immediately called for the release of these detained judges after five months of house arrest. Iqbal even noted that Musharraf has the power to dissolve the National Assembly, but he is certain that if this took place, the Assembly would ignore the order and move to remove this power from the executive office. Nuclear Technology Transfer -------------- ¶7. (C) Representative Tierney asked whether the new government would give the international community access to A.Q. Khan, the mastermind behind Pakistan's nuclear capability development. Iqbal quickly pointed out that no political party within Pakistan would "give him over." However, both the PML-N and the PPP are committed to nuclear non-proliferation. In addition, during his term as Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif rejected the idea of selling the nuclear technology capabilities to other countries, as he was pressured to do. Iqbal was quick to note that had the world's super powers created a legitimate means of nuclear technology transfer, Pakistan would not have had to create their program using back channels. Iqbal believed that Pakistan was willing to work with the US on creating such a legitimate system of technology transfer for other interested countries. ¶8. (C) Representative Tierney asked Iqbal if he anticipated a position in the new government. Ahsan Iqbal responded, "Hopefully." (Note. Iqbal was sworn in as the Minister of Education on March 31.) ¶9. (U) Codel Tierney did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. BODDE