Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KARACHI479
2008-08-16 11:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
SINDH ASSEMBLY ASKS MUSHARRAF TO ACCEPT ELECTORAL
how-toVZCZCXRO2242 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHKP #0479 2291139 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161139Z AUG 08 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0591 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0058 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0176 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0242 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1756 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2557 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4440 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000479
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH ASSEMBLY ASKS MUSHARRAF TO ACCEPT ELECTORAL
COLLEGE DECISION
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Kay Anske for reasons 1.4 b
and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000479
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH ASSEMBLY ASKS MUSHARRAF TO ACCEPT ELECTORAL
COLLEGE DECISION
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Kay Anske for reasons 1.4 b
and d
1. (C) Summary: In a move spearheaded by the Pakistan
Peoples' Party (PPP),the Sindh Provincial Assembly voted 94
) 0 on August 13 to ask President Pervez Musharraf to agree
to resign or face impeachment if he fails to win a vote of
confidence on his re-election from his electoral college (all
four provincial assemblies, the Senate and the National
Assembly). Members of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
party, long-time Musharraf allies who rule Sindh in coalition
with the PPP, did not come to the Assembly for the vote.
Members of the opposition in the 168-seat legislative body
did not participate in the vote, although they were present
in the Assembly building. This and the other non-binding
resolutions from all four provinces were designed to pressure
Musharraf to resign rather than face impeachment. End
summary.
2. (SBU) On August 14, Speaker of the Sindh Provincial
Assembly Nisar Khuhro (PPP) confirmed to the Consul General
(CG) that, on August 13, the Sindh Assembly unanimously
adopted (94 ) 0) a resolution, spearheaded by the majority
Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP),that calls for President
Pervez Musharraf to seek a vote of confidence on his
re-election from his electoral college (all four provincial
assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly). Should he
fail to win a vote of confidence, the resolution stated,
Musharraf should resign or face impeachment.
3. (SBU) Members of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
political party, a member of the ruling Sindh coalition and
traditional allies of Musharraf, were not physically present
at the Assembly building for the vote. Members of opposition
parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and the
National People's Party (NPP) did not attend the session, but
were otherwise present at the Assembly building.
4. (C) Minister for Youth Affairs and MQM Provincial
Assembly member Faisal Sabzwari told PolOff on August 15 that
his party decided that not showing up at the Assembly
building was the best option. He recounted that MQM was a
member of Musharraf's government. To turn course and act
against him, he said, would risk alienating many of MQM's
core supporters. On the other hand, taking a public position
in opposition to the PPP would risk the viability of the
province's coalition government, of which MQM is the junior
partner. Speaker Khuhro told the CG that he admired the
deftness of MQM's political maneuvering on this issue.
Anske
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH ASSEMBLY ASKS MUSHARRAF TO ACCEPT ELECTORAL
COLLEGE DECISION
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Kay Anske for reasons 1.4 b
and d
1. (C) Summary: In a move spearheaded by the Pakistan
Peoples' Party (PPP),the Sindh Provincial Assembly voted 94
) 0 on August 13 to ask President Pervez Musharraf to agree
to resign or face impeachment if he fails to win a vote of
confidence on his re-election from his electoral college (all
four provincial assemblies, the Senate and the National
Assembly). Members of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
party, long-time Musharraf allies who rule Sindh in coalition
with the PPP, did not come to the Assembly for the vote.
Members of the opposition in the 168-seat legislative body
did not participate in the vote, although they were present
in the Assembly building. This and the other non-binding
resolutions from all four provinces were designed to pressure
Musharraf to resign rather than face impeachment. End
summary.
2. (SBU) On August 14, Speaker of the Sindh Provincial
Assembly Nisar Khuhro (PPP) confirmed to the Consul General
(CG) that, on August 13, the Sindh Assembly unanimously
adopted (94 ) 0) a resolution, spearheaded by the majority
Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP),that calls for President
Pervez Musharraf to seek a vote of confidence on his
re-election from his electoral college (all four provincial
assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly). Should he
fail to win a vote of confidence, the resolution stated,
Musharraf should resign or face impeachment.
3. (SBU) Members of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
political party, a member of the ruling Sindh coalition and
traditional allies of Musharraf, were not physically present
at the Assembly building for the vote. Members of opposition
parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and the
National People's Party (NPP) did not attend the session, but
were otherwise present at the Assembly building.
4. (C) Minister for Youth Affairs and MQM Provincial
Assembly member Faisal Sabzwari told PolOff on August 15 that
his party decided that not showing up at the Assembly
building was the best option. He recounted that MQM was a
member of Musharraf's government. To turn course and act
against him, he said, would risk alienating many of MQM's
core supporters. On the other hand, taking a public position
in opposition to the PPP would risk the viability of the
province's coalition government, of which MQM is the junior
partner. Speaker Khuhro told the CG that he admired the
deftness of MQM's political maneuvering on this issue.
Anske