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