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