Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD482
2008-02-01 12:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PUBLIC SHRUGS AFTER RETIRED GENERALS CENSURE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000482
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PK PREL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC SHRUGS AFTER RETIRED GENERALS CENSURE
MUSHARRAF
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000482
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PK PREL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC SHRUGS AFTER RETIRED GENERALS CENSURE
MUSHARRAF
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) In a January 31 meeting, a group of retired army
officers urged Musharraf to step down and hand over power to
deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Chaudhry, who could then
create a national unity government. The group also endorsed
the lawyers' movement, demanded the government appoint former
Supreme Court Justice Bhagwandas as head of the Election
Commission, and asked the government to release A.Q. Khan
from house arrest or charge him with treason. Prominent
ex-officers, including ret. Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, former army
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Mirza Aslam Baig, and former
Inter-Services Intelligence director Gen Hameed Gul,
allegedly attended the event.
2. (SBU) All local English dailies reported on the event,
with some providing front page coverage. Editorials, however,
pilloried the group's announcement. The press scathingly
noted that these were the same men who mismanaged the state,
exploited their office for personal gain, and overstepped
their writ when serving on active military duty. Thus, the
papers claim, this group has little room to chastise
Musharraf. Some editorials called on the group to apologize
for their own misconduct.
3. (C) Comment: While the western press has interpreted the
call of the retired officers as proof that Musharraf's base
has eroded, we find the local press reaction much more
interesting. We see this as an indication of just how much
the public wants the Army to retreat from politics and return
to its barracks. Retired generals criticizing Musharraf is
nothing new. A much smaller group of civilians and former
generals delivered a similar letter to Musharraf asking him
to resign in July 2006. There is also a personal element to
this week's meeting--former COAS Baig and Musharraf have a
deteriorating personal relationship that dates back to
Musharraf's public criticism of former COAS Baig in 2004.
End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PK PREL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC SHRUGS AFTER RETIRED GENERALS CENSURE
MUSHARRAF
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) In a January 31 meeting, a group of retired army
officers urged Musharraf to step down and hand over power to
deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Chaudhry, who could then
create a national unity government. The group also endorsed
the lawyers' movement, demanded the government appoint former
Supreme Court Justice Bhagwandas as head of the Election
Commission, and asked the government to release A.Q. Khan
from house arrest or charge him with treason. Prominent
ex-officers, including ret. Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, former army
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Mirza Aslam Baig, and former
Inter-Services Intelligence director Gen Hameed Gul,
allegedly attended the event.
2. (SBU) All local English dailies reported on the event,
with some providing front page coverage. Editorials, however,
pilloried the group's announcement. The press scathingly
noted that these were the same men who mismanaged the state,
exploited their office for personal gain, and overstepped
their writ when serving on active military duty. Thus, the
papers claim, this group has little room to chastise
Musharraf. Some editorials called on the group to apologize
for their own misconduct.
3. (C) Comment: While the western press has interpreted the
call of the retired officers as proof that Musharraf's base
has eroded, we find the local press reaction much more
interesting. We see this as an indication of just how much
the public wants the Army to retreat from politics and return
to its barracks. Retired generals criticizing Musharraf is
nothing new. A much smaller group of civilians and former
generals delivered a similar letter to Musharraf asking him
to resign in July 2006. There is also a personal element to
this week's meeting--former COAS Baig and Musharraf have a
deteriorating personal relationship that dates back to
Musharraf's public criticism of former COAS Baig in 2004.
End comment.
PATTERSON