GOVERNOR TASEER KEEPS PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER ALERT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAHORE 000314


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/6/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PTER
SUBJECT: GOVERNOR TASEER KEEPS PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER ALERT

CLASSIFIED BY: Clinton Taylor, Acting Principal Officer,
Consulate Lahore, U.S. Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b)


1. (C) Summary: In response to a series of critical letters that
Punjab Province Governor Salman Taseer sent to Chief Minister
Shahbaz Sharif in November, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah
circulated incriminating photographs depicting Taseer and his
family as un-Islamic. Although the leaders of the two political
parties calmed emotions on both sides, the ongoing feud
demonstrates Taseer's role as a Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
thorn in the side of the Punjab provincial government, pricking
the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) without toppling the
coalition. The political drama, however, has dented the already
not-so-clean reputation of Taseer, and by extension the PPP,
while Sharif has taken the high road and let his proxy Sanaullah
argue on his behalf. Ultimately, the exchange has sustained the
tension between the two political parties' efforts to compete
with each other and rule together in a coalition provincial
government. End Summary.

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Taseer's Letters to CM Ruffle PMLN Feathers
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2. (SBU) In an effort to rile the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PMLN)-dominated provincial government, Punjab Governor Salman
Taseer sent Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif three letters in the
first two weeks of November that criticized the PMLN's efforts.
According to news reports, one letter directed the provincial
government to hold a long-delayed cabinet meeting and appoint a
prosecutor general to improve the judicial process. Another
letter, responding to an incident in which the Punjab government
removed doctors allegedly blamed for the deaths of patients,
warned the Chief Minister against harassing medical
professionals. Punjab media interpreted the letters as a
challenge to the competency of the provincial government and
cited it as further evidence of Taseer's ongoing attempts on
behalf of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to dethrone the PMLN.

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Letters Prompt Mudslinging from PMLN
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3. (C) Responding to the letters, Punjab Law Minister Rana
Sanaullah held a press conference November 19 in which he
blasted the private life of Taseer and his family, and
distributed photographs showing Taseer's "loose" lifestyle. The
photos, which several contacts received by email and media
reports noted were at least two-years old, show Taseer drinking
alcohol; his son drinking wine and lounging on a beach with
bikini-clad women; and his daughter swimming in a pool with men
and wearing shorts during physical education class at the Lahore
American School. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) affiliated
attorney Chaudhry Fawwad Ahmed told poleconoff December 1 that
he had seen videos showing worse behavior. "Everyone drinks
privately, but when you hold public office, this behavior is
irresponsible, especially in a very conservative area," he said.


4. (C) The PPP fought back November 20, as provincial leader
Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan denounced Sanaullah's defamation of
Taseer's family. "Even the worst of enemies show respect
towards each other's families," he declared. The PPP Members of
the Provincial Assembly (MPA) further reminded Sanaullah that
the "letters of advice" sent by the governor fall well within
the constitution. Zardari added his complaints in a November 19
phone call to Nawaz Sharif, during which the President demanded
that Sharif take action against Sanaullah and refrain from
further attacks on the governor.

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Taseer's Reputation Dented
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5. (C) Ex-PMLN Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Afzal
Dogar, who continues to advise the Sharif family, explained to
poleconoff November 19 that Taseer, who comes from a wealthy
background, considers the Sharif clan "nouveau riche." At a
time when the PPP and PMLN have few differences in policy, he
noted, the photographs highlight the difference in "principles"
between the parties. Taseer's "western playboy ways" clash with
the PMLN's less secular and more conservative outlook, he
contended. Raja Amir Khan, who contested an MPA seat in Sialkot
for the PPP, told PolEconoff December 1 that Taseer "is
freelancing" and called him a "political novice." Moreover, he
noted, the governor has few ties to the PPP. Fawwad Ahmed also
offered that Taseer's actions have "only benefited the PMLN."

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Sanaullah Says Governor is "Like a Brother"
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6. (SBU) Sanaullah reversed his position November 20, and
announced in the Provincial Assembly that he treated Taseer like
a relative. "The governor is like my brother, his daughters are
like my daughters and his wife is like my sister," he told the
Assembly. The PMLN, represented by Minister Chaudhry Abdul
Ghafoor, also participated in a November 20 procession in Lahore
marking solidarity with the Zardari government.

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Lingering Disagreements Remain
- - -


7. (SBU) Despite the apparent reconciliation between the PPP and
PMLN, Sanaullah resumed his complaints at a November 22 press
forum, where he hinted that the PPP recognized that Taseer had
overstepped his role. "We have settled issues with our
coalition partners in the province, as the governor has no legal
right to write letters to the provincial government," he
explained. "He cannot advise the provincial government, and the
government was not answerable to him, as it was only answerable
to the Punjab Assembly." When a journalist showed Sanaullah a
photograph of him with a glass of wine, he swore an oath that he
does drink alcohol.


8. (SBU) Taseer also asserted his right to send the Chief
Minister letters. He justified the letters under Articles 129
and 131 of the Constitution on November 25 as within his
prerogative to ask for information about the administrative
affairs and policies of the provincial government. He also told
journalists November 30 that he will continue to exchange "love
letters" with the Chief Minister. In fact, he told the press
December 3 that he will soon send a letter protesting the
treatment of students by the police in a December 2 clash at
Punjab University.

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Comment: Differences Set Aside for Now, But Tension Remains
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9. (C) Taseer's continuous pricking of the provincial government
serves as a reminder that the PMLN must continue to reckon with
the PPP as a provincial partner. Taseer's actions show that he
has little fear of the Chief Minister, and that he stands ready
to topple the government if President Zardari decides to make a
political play for Punjab. In the meantime, Taseer can keep the
provincial government on its toes, even though Sharif has earned
growing popular support with his good governance policies.


HUNT