DRL ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRAMER MEETS WITH FEMALE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001749

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL KWMN
SUBJECT: DRL ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRAMER MEETS WITH FEMALE
PARLIAMENTARIANS

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: On April 22, Assistant Secretary Kramer and
PolCouns met with female National Assembly members from the
Pakistan People's Party (PPP),Pakistan Muslim League (PML),
and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). During a lively one
hour discussion, the women discussed election reform and
agreed that extremism and the economy were the new
government's biggest challenges. End summary.


2. (C) On April 22, Assistant Secretary Kramer and PolCouns
hosted tea for several female parliamentarians. Dr. Azra
Fazl Pechuho (PPP co-chair Asif Zardari's sister) and Farzana
Raja attended on behalf of the PPP. Dr. Donya Aziz and
businesswoman Marvi Memnon attended on behalf of the PML.
Ms. KhushBakht Shujaat attended on behalf of the MQM.

Agreement: Room for Electoral Improvement
--------------


3. (C) The PPP parliamentarians agreed the elections were
credible but offered suggestions for continued electoral
reform. Dr. Azra explained that some polling stations were
changed at the last minute, and when approached, election
officials refused to rectify the problem. She also expressed
disappointment that nearly 60% of the potential female voters
in her constituency lacked voter ID cards. Ms. Raja
emphasized steps should be taken to secure the Election
Commission's neutrality and noted the Prime Minister publicly
announced electoral reform would be a priority in the
government's first 100 days. Ms. Memnon (of the PML)
conceded approval for the new government's steps toward
electoral reform.

Top Challenges for the Government
--------------


4. (C) After a lively debate, the women agreed that extremism
and the economy are the biggest challenges facing the new
government. Dr. Azra noted that Northwest Frontier Province
(NWFP) authorities face numerous illegal radio stations which
disseminate extremist propaganda; she said the government
must rise to the challenge of educating the masses and
changing their minds from extremist to enlightened. She also
emphasized the new government needs to stop blaming other
countries and accept responsibility that extremism is an
internal problem. She claimed (and the PML women agreed)
former President General Zia ul-Haq was responsible for
importing extreme Wahabi Islam to Pakistan, which previously
embraced the more peaceful and liberal Sufi strain of Islam.
Dr. Aziz and Ms. Memnon agreed terrorism was bad for Pakistan
because it fostered investor unrest.


5. (C) Dr. Azra said the government looks forward to the
Awami National Party (ANP)'s involvement in the NWFP, as they
are accepted by the tribal community and can use this
influence to solve frontier issues. However, the PML women
were less optimistic about the ANP's chances for success. Dr.
Aziz stressed the ANP must quickly prove their ability to
control the masses, because the religious parties are capable
of motivating mass street agitation. The women unanimously
agreed the Frontier Crimes Regulation must be revised and the
Political Parties Act extended to the tribal areas, so that
the laws of the tribal region are identical to those of
Punjab or Sindh. Ms. Memnon emphasized changes in the FATA
should be made in consultation with parliamentarians from
that region.


6. (C) The women agreed the government must address madrassa
reform. Dr. Azra said many madrassa attendees are Afghan
refugee children, who rely on the madrassas for food,
shelter, and clothing. She suggested the government, rather
than shut down madrassas, reform the curriculum to provide
the children with a mainstream education. Ms. Raja agreed,
but emphasized the government must distinguish between
legitimate "religious madrassas" and "political madrassas
(which train children to be militants).


7. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Kramer.
PATTERSON