Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD588
2008-02-09 12:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
how-toVZCZCXRO3971 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0588 0401218 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091218Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4975 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8121 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7208 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2766 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 8870 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 4776 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3464 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000588
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000588
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE
1. (U) Summary: Politician Imran Khan again was prevented
from entering Karachi by Sindh authorities out of fear that
he will further promote a boycott of the upcoming elections.
Fifteen lawyers in Peshawar were charged with sedition, which
carries a maximum penalty of death if convicted, after they
attempted to block a fellow attorney from breaking the
ongoing court boycott. Aaj TV was allowed to resume broadcast
after a temporary suspension. End summary.
IMRAN KHAN DENIED INTO KARACHI
--------------
2. (U) On February 7, Sindh authorities blocked
Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan from entry into Karachi
under the Maintenance of Public Order Act because of his call
to boycott the February 18 elections. The authorities placed
Khan back on his plane for Islamabad, making it the third
time that the former cricket star was denied entry in five
months. Khan was scheduled to address the Karachi Bar
Association and the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (ADPM) -
which has been denied the right to hold meetings - during his
attempted three-day visit. Sindh Home Minister Akhtar Zamin
explained that Khan was welcome to Karachi after the
elections, but he did not want Khan inciting others to follow
his path to boycott.
LAWYERS CHARGED WITH SEDITION
--------------
3. (U) On February 7, the police filed sedition cases against
15 lawyers, including two women, for blocking a fellow
attorney from attending court. The group had been seeking to
enforce a boycott to protest working with justices who took a
loyalty oath under the November 3 Provincial Constitution
Order (PCO). The charges, which hold a maximum penalty of
death if convicted, include waging war against Pakistan,
conspiracy to wage war against the state, joining an unlawful
assembly, rioting with deadly weapons, and assault to deter
public servants from discharging their duties.
AAJ TV RESUMES BROADCAST
--------------
4. (U) On February 6, Aaj TV was taken off the air for 12
hours after the station allowed Nusrat Javed to host a talk
show. In its agreement with the government to resume
broadcasting, Aaj had promised to keep Javed, who is
considered by the government as being "anti-Musharraf," off
the air. Aaj TV has now apologized for violating their
agreement, and Aaj is back on the air. The Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) denies that it
blocked Aaj transmission.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE
1. (U) Summary: Politician Imran Khan again was prevented
from entering Karachi by Sindh authorities out of fear that
he will further promote a boycott of the upcoming elections.
Fifteen lawyers in Peshawar were charged with sedition, which
carries a maximum penalty of death if convicted, after they
attempted to block a fellow attorney from breaking the
ongoing court boycott. Aaj TV was allowed to resume broadcast
after a temporary suspension. End summary.
IMRAN KHAN DENIED INTO KARACHI
--------------
2. (U) On February 7, Sindh authorities blocked
Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan from entry into Karachi
under the Maintenance of Public Order Act because of his call
to boycott the February 18 elections. The authorities placed
Khan back on his plane for Islamabad, making it the third
time that the former cricket star was denied entry in five
months. Khan was scheduled to address the Karachi Bar
Association and the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (ADPM) -
which has been denied the right to hold meetings - during his
attempted three-day visit. Sindh Home Minister Akhtar Zamin
explained that Khan was welcome to Karachi after the
elections, but he did not want Khan inciting others to follow
his path to boycott.
LAWYERS CHARGED WITH SEDITION
--------------
3. (U) On February 7, the police filed sedition cases against
15 lawyers, including two women, for blocking a fellow
attorney from attending court. The group had been seeking to
enforce a boycott to protest working with justices who took a
loyalty oath under the November 3 Provincial Constitution
Order (PCO). The charges, which hold a maximum penalty of
death if convicted, include waging war against Pakistan,
conspiracy to wage war against the state, joining an unlawful
assembly, rioting with deadly weapons, and assault to deter
public servants from discharging their duties.
AAJ TV RESUMES BROADCAST
--------------
4. (U) On February 6, Aaj TV was taken off the air for 12
hours after the station allowed Nusrat Javed to host a talk
show. In its agreement with the government to resume
broadcasting, Aaj had promised to keep Javed, who is
considered by the government as being "anti-Musharraf," off
the air. Aaj TV has now apologized for violating their
agreement, and Aaj is back on the air. The Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) denies that it
blocked Aaj transmission.
PATTERSON