Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD1996
2008-05-30 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
ZARDARI REPEATS COMMITMENT TO JUDICIARY, TONES
how-toVZCZCXRO7368 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #1996 1511544 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301544Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7163 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8644 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8000 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3313 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9795 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5535 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4276 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 001996
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL KJUS
SUBJECT: ZARDARI REPEATS COMMITMENT TO JUDICIARY, TONES
DOWN ANTI-MUSHARRAF RHETORIC
REF: ISLAMABAD 1955
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001996
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL KJUS
SUBJECT: ZARDARI REPEATS COMMITMENT TO JUDICIARY, TONES
DOWN ANTI-MUSHARRAF RHETORIC
REF: ISLAMABAD 1955
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) In a late May 30 press conference, Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari reaffirmed the GOP's
commitment to restore the Supreme Court and provincial High
Court judges removed on November 3, 2007. He added that he
and Law Minister Farooq Naek would discuss this evening the
draft 62-part amendment bill, intended to restore the
judiciary and clip the President's powers (reftel). Zardari
did not provide any further details that have not already
been leaked (and reported by Post); he expected the full
draft bill to be forwarded to PPP's coalition partners
"soon." He refused to accept any imposed timeline, Zardari
stated. Directly addressing recent rumors that Musharraf may
soon resign, Zardari would only say that Musharraf's fate
"would be decided by parliament and the Pakistani people."
Zardari said his party "believed in dialogue" for restoring
the country's democracy.
2. (C) Comment: To many political observers' and
commentators' surprise, the only thing really new about
Zardari's latest public comments is his toned down rhetoric
about Musharraf's future. Just a few days ago, Zardari
called the President a "relic," encouraging coalition partner
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to call for impeachment and
prompting a very public rumor/counter-rumor (septel).
Tonight, Zardari stayed in the game, but did not add fuel to
the fire. He also attempted to give the appearance of
movement on restoration of the judges, but actually probably
stalled until early next week. End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL KJUS
SUBJECT: ZARDARI REPEATS COMMITMENT TO JUDICIARY, TONES
DOWN ANTI-MUSHARRAF RHETORIC
REF: ISLAMABAD 1955
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) In a late May 30 press conference, Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari reaffirmed the GOP's
commitment to restore the Supreme Court and provincial High
Court judges removed on November 3, 2007. He added that he
and Law Minister Farooq Naek would discuss this evening the
draft 62-part amendment bill, intended to restore the
judiciary and clip the President's powers (reftel). Zardari
did not provide any further details that have not already
been leaked (and reported by Post); he expected the full
draft bill to be forwarded to PPP's coalition partners
"soon." He refused to accept any imposed timeline, Zardari
stated. Directly addressing recent rumors that Musharraf may
soon resign, Zardari would only say that Musharraf's fate
"would be decided by parliament and the Pakistani people."
Zardari said his party "believed in dialogue" for restoring
the country's democracy.
2. (C) Comment: To many political observers' and
commentators' surprise, the only thing really new about
Zardari's latest public comments is his toned down rhetoric
about Musharraf's future. Just a few days ago, Zardari
called the President a "relic," encouraging coalition partner
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to call for impeachment and
prompting a very public rumor/counter-rumor (septel).
Tonight, Zardari stayed in the game, but did not add fuel to
the fire. He also attempted to give the appearance of
movement on restoration of the judges, but actually probably
stalled until early next week. End comment.
PATTERSON