Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD1804
2008-05-10 11:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
how-toVZCZCXRO0395 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #1804 1311103 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101103Z MAY 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6871 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8549 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7872 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3226 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9695 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5440 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4179 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 ISLAMABAD 001804
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: BY-ELECTIONS NOW SET FOR JUNE 26
REF: ISLAMABAD 1757
Classified By: CDA E. Candace Putnam, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001804
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: BY-ELECTIONS NOW SET FOR JUNE 26
REF: ISLAMABAD 1757
Classified By: CDA E. Candace Putnam, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: After a firestorm of public criticism, the
Election Commission (ECP) reversed its decision to postpone
by-elections until August 2008; on May 7, it announced
by-elections will be held June 26. This was an embarrassing,
if minor, debacle involving multiple excuses and finger
pointing among coalition members. In the end, Interior
Minister Malik took the blame for following Zardari's orders
to postpone the by-elections on flimsy security grounds. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) For the third time, Pakistan's Election Commission
(ECP) rescheduled by-elections for 38 national and provincial
parliamentary seats. Earlier this week, the ECP announced
elections would be delayed until August because of the law
and order situation in the Northwest Frontier Province
(NWFP). It reconsidered after a firestorm of criticism
from political parties and press; the new date of June 26 is
only a week later than the original date of June 18.
3. (SBU) ECP Secretary Dilshad said the ECP decided to
reverse its decision after consulting with political party
leaders and the NWFP Chief Minister. Local press suggests
the ECP also reconsidered after receiving a "fresh report"
from NWFP on the area's law and order situation.
PUTNAM
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: BY-ELECTIONS NOW SET FOR JUNE 26
REF: ISLAMABAD 1757
Classified By: CDA E. Candace Putnam, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: After a firestorm of public criticism, the
Election Commission (ECP) reversed its decision to postpone
by-elections until August 2008; on May 7, it announced
by-elections will be held June 26. This was an embarrassing,
if minor, debacle involving multiple excuses and finger
pointing among coalition members. In the end, Interior
Minister Malik took the blame for following Zardari's orders
to postpone the by-elections on flimsy security grounds. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) For the third time, Pakistan's Election Commission
(ECP) rescheduled by-elections for 38 national and provincial
parliamentary seats. Earlier this week, the ECP announced
elections would be delayed until August because of the law
and order situation in the Northwest Frontier Province
(NWFP). It reconsidered after a firestorm of criticism
from political parties and press; the new date of June 26 is
only a week later than the original date of June 18.
3. (SBU) ECP Secretary Dilshad said the ECP decided to
reverse its decision after consulting with political party
leaders and the NWFP Chief Minister. Local press suggests
the ECP also reconsidered after receiving a "fresh report"
from NWFP on the area's law and order situation.
PUTNAM