AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PML-N LEADER NAWAZ SHARIF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001756 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KJUS PK SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PML-N LEADER NAWAZ SHARIF REF: A. ISLAMABAD 1743 ¶B. LAHORE 193 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador called on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on May 2 to discuss the judges restoration issue, the South Waziristan peace deal and the Pakistani economy. Nawaz said a committee would be established to draft a parliamentary resolution to reinstate the judges on May 12. He strongly defended the peace deal but agreed with the Ambassador's concerns that any peace agreement should specifically preclude cross border attacks into Afghanistan. He is also aware that Pakistan's economy is facing multiple challenges; therefore, Nawaz agreed to accept some of the toughest federal ministerial portfolios for those positions in which he felt he had the most competent ministerial candidates. Finally Nawaz admitted that he is still undecided but leaning against running for a seat in next month's by-elections and claimed Zardari may not run either. End summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador paid a courtesy call on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on May 2 at his Raiwind estate in Lahore. Accompanying the Ambassador were Principal Officer and Poloff (note taker). Nawaz was joined by his brother and former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Nawaz and Shahbaz had just returned from Dubai early that morning. The meeting was cordial and both Sharif brothers appeared to be in pleasant moods. ¶3. (C) Nawaz started off by stating that the restoration of the deposed judges was essential to righting a wrong and added it was not acceptable to ever compromise on such highhandedness as exhibited by President Musharraf. He said that no civilized nation could ever let the events of November 3, 2007 stand. He also stressed his motivations were based on democratic principles and not/not any personal feelings toward deposed former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. He said that he has never met Iftikhar nor even talked to him on the phone. He even admitted that he was personally upset with Iftikhar for not doing more in September to ensure his entry into Pakistan in spite of the August Supreme Court ruling stating that the government could not bar him from returning. In short, Nawaz emphasized that his motivation in this issue was based on democratic principle and not on friendship or seeking to gain political 
advantage. ¶4. (C) Nawaz then briefed the Ambassador on what he would announce at his press conference scheduled for several hours later. He stated that all of the deposed judges would be restored via a Parliamentary resolution on May 12. In addition a six member committee would be established to draft the resolution and work out specific details. Committee members include Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan, Leader of the House in Senate Raza Rabbani, Law Minister Farooq Naek, Punjab Advocate General Khawaja Haris along with prominent lawyers Fakhruddin Ibrahim and Hafiz Pirzada. Besides the reinstatement issue the committee would also be empowered to advise on issues that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is prioritizing, such as mandatory retirement age for judges, their tenure, appointment procedures and the judiciary's specific powers. ¶5. (C) Turning to the South Waziristan peace agreement, the Ambassador expressed USG concern on whether this scheme was in fact different from past agreements that had failed and had given the militants time to regroup and launch cross border attacks against American, NATO and Afghan security forces in Afghanistan. Nawaz and Shahbaz both defended the agreement and stated that this one was different since negotiations were with the tribal leaders. Shahbaz added this agreement could alienate the hard core militants from the public and tribal leaders. In addition, Shahbaz stressed it was absolutely necessary to have a "carrot and stick" approach to achieve peace. He added in the last several years only the stick had been utilized and the result was increased fighting. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador pressed the point that the USG was concerned that cross border attacks into Afghanistan were not explicitly prohibited in the peace agreement. Nawaz ISLAMABAD 00001756 002 OF 002 attempted to allay those concerns and stated that the peace agreement at least implicitly prevented cross border attacks and that any interpretation that did not do so would be contradictory to peace and stability in South Waziristan. ¶7. (C) On the economy, the Ambassador remarked that she was impressed with the PML-N Ministers she had met dealing with economic and ministerial portfolios. She also added that this was a politically risky move for the PML-N since none of the economic and financial issues confronting Pakistan could be solved in the short term. Nawaz responded it was his duty to do what he could to assist; therefore, he ought to appoint his party's office-holders to even the toughest Ministerial portfolios if they are the most competent. ¶8. (C) For the upcoming by-elections next month, Nawaz stated that he was leaning against running for a National Assembly seat since it may require him to appeal to a "kangaroo court" if the Election Commission initially rejects them. Shahbaz, however, said that he will run for one or more Punjab provincial assembly seats and was encouraging his brother to file his nomination papers regardless. ¶9. (C) According to Nawaz, PPP Leader Asif Zardari told him in Dubai that he does not plan to run for a seat. Nawaz, however, advised Zardari to give a PPP party ticket to Supreme Court Bar President Aitzaz Ahsan. Although Zardari has serious misgivings about Ahsan, Nawaz advised that it was better to bring him back into the fold. Nawaz even pledged to give up a vacant PML-N seat if Ahsan was the candidate. Note: the PML-N and the PPP have agreed not to file candidates against one another in the upcoming by-elections for seats that each party respectively won in the February 18 elections. End note. ¶10. (C) Comment: In spite of the May 12 deadline to restore the judges, the fact that Zardari was not present at the press conference and that a committee had to be established to work out the details suggests this was little more than an attempt to give them some breathing space to assess their options and the political landscape. These include the future of the coalition, Musharraf's counter moves, public opinion, the lawyers movement reaction and whether the current constituted Supreme Court can and would issue a stay order against the resolution. In short, it is far from certain if the deposed judges will in fact be restored and back to work on May 12. The general tone of the meeting, however, did suggest that Nawaz prefers to keep the coalition together at least for the time being. He also emphasized that a strong, cooperative United States-Pakistan bilateral relationship is essential to Pakistan's national interests. End comment. PATTERSON