Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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08ISLAMABAD788 | 2008-02-22 14:20:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Islamabad |
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000788 |
1. (C) Summary: This is one of several profiles on potential
Pakistani candidates for Prime Minister. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Zardari recently expressed willingness to name Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Javed Hashmi as Prime Minister (REF B). Hashmi is best known for being jailed on charges of treason in 2004 after advocating a coup against Musharraf. Hashmi, who was acting party President during Sharif's exile, has consistently had the strong backing of the Sharifs. End summary. Potential Consensus Candidate? -------------------------- 2. (C) Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif selected Hashmi as the party's acting president in 2000, after Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia. In 2002 Sharif appointed him leader of the PML-N in the National Assembly. In 2003, after Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan's death, he was chosen as the leader of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), where he interfaced with his party and the PPP. 3. (C) Hashmi is an effective and dynamic campaigner who is also a fiery speaker. He recently was elected to his sixth term in the National Assembly. In the February 18, 2008 elections he was the only candidate who was elected from three separate constituencies. In Rawalpindi he defeated PML heavyweight Sheikh Rashid Ahmad by a large margin. 4. (C) Hashmi in 2004 attempted to embarrass the Musharraf government by holding a press conference in which he read a letter ostensibly from junior army officers advocating a coup against Musharraf. Hashmi was arrested on charges of treason and forgery and tried in secret. He was sentenced to 23 years despite protests from human rights groups and the international community. The ARD ran Hashmi, although he remained in jail, as its candidate for Prime Minister against Shaukat Aziz in 2004, but the Speaker refused to allow Hashmi to campaign before the National Assembly. The Supreme Court of Pakistan under Iftikhar Chaudhry granted Hashmi bail after serving 3.5 years in prison and he was released on August 4, 2007. He was re-detained for several weeks in November 2007 during Musharraf's emergency rule (REF A). While imprisoned Hashmi stayed in contact with opposition leaders, talking twice to Benazir Bhutto, and to Jamaat-e-Islami's Qazi Hussain and Tehreek-e-Insaf's Imran Khan. (REF A). Personal and Career History -------------------------- 5. (C) A soft-spoken intellectual, Hashmi was born on January 1, 1948 in Makhdoom Rashid, Multan, Punjab. He completed his M.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of the Punjab, where he was a prominent student leader. He was elected president of the student's Union of Punjab University and belonged to the Jamaat-i-Islami's student wing. He was Minister of State for Youth and Student's Affairs, Minister of State for Culture, Sports and Tourism (1978-1979). Under former President General Zia he was Minster of Culture and Tourism. Hashmi was elected to the National Assembly in 1985 and was appointed Federal Minster for Health (1997) during Sharif's second administration. Hashmi is a significant landowner in southern Punjab and is married with six daughters, at least one who is involved in politics (REF A). Hashmi has traveled to the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. His hobbies include reading, walking, and following current affairs. He speaks excellent English. PATTERSON |