PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 26, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000420 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 26, 2009 Summary: Supreme Court's verdict "disqualifying Sharif brothers (Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif) from holding any public office and contesting election," dominated front pages in all newspapers on Thursday. All newspapers also highlighted reports that the judgment "triggered countrywide protests by the PML-N workers." Reports on the "imposition of Governor Rule" in the Punjab province for a period of two months received extensive coverage. Newspapers reported that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif "blamed President Zardari for the disqualification verdict." In other news, all dailies reported that Secretary of State Clinton "pledged close strategic consultations with Pakistan" as she met with Foreign Minister Qureshi in Washington. Pakistan Army Chief Kiyani's meeting with Secretary of Defense Gates also received prominent display. Several major dailies highlighted President Obama's first address to the Congress warning that "he will not allow terrorists sitting half a world away to plot attacks against the American people." Almost all major dailies ran editorials on the ineligibility of the two PML-N leaders, and its ramification on national politics. The prestigious English daily, "Dawn," noted that the "judiciary has done a disservice to the people by injecting itself into a patently political issue in a way that will only worsen short-term instability and do nothing for long-term betterment." The second-largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," observed that "it is ironic that country has been pushed towards instability just one year after formation of civilian democracy." The independent Urdu daily, "Din," wrote: "No matter how the issue is analyzed, the outcome is that the present democratic set-up has been dealt a severe blow." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Supreme Court Makes Public Office Out Of Bounds For Sharif Brothers" "Dawn" (02/26) "The Supreme Court on Wednesday disqualified Sharif brothers from holding any public office and contesting election. Consequently, Shahbaz Sharif lost the office of Chief Minister of Punjab and elder brother Nawaz Sharif is barred from contesting elections." "Nationwide Protests Today" "Dawn" (0/26) "The Pakistan Muslim League-N announced on Wednesday its plan for country-wide protest against the Supreme Court's decision of disqualifying its leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and imposition of governor's rule in Punjab." "N-League Workers Take To Streets" "Dawn" (0/26) "Workers and activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday took to main highways and streets of the twin cities where they not only staged protest and sit in but also set tyres on fire." "President Imposes Governor's Rule On PM's Advice" "Dawn" (02/26) "On the advice of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani under Article 237 of the Constitution, President Asif Ali Zardari imposed governor's rule in Punjab with immediate effect for two months on Wednesday and made Governor Salman Taseer head of the provincial set-up." "Nawaz Blames Zardari" "The News" (02/26) "PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday urged the nation to rise up as he blamed President Asif Zardari for the disqualification verdict passed against him (Nawaz) and Shahbaz Sharif by the Supreme Court on Wednesday." "Nawaz Terms SC Decision 'An Edict'" "Daily Times" (02/26) "Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif criticized a Supreme Court decision to disqualify him from being a parliamentarian, and said it was an 'edict.'" "Gilani Proves Bush's Remarks" "The News" (02/26) "By agreeing to the imposition of the Governor's rule in the Punjab, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has proven right the prophetic comment of former U.S. President George W. Bush who, after a White House meeting in July 2008, had called him 'a sophisticated but powerless politician.' These remarks by Bush turned out to be prophetic when Gilani decided to fall in line instead of defying President Zardari's instructions for the imposition of the Governor's rule in the politically influential province." "Sherry Denies Center's Hand In SC Verdict" "The News" (02/26) "Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman has said that the Federal Government has nothing to do with the Supreme Court's verdict regarding the disqualification of Sharif brothers but we commiserate with them." "Disqualification Pakistan's Internal Matter, Says U.S." Daily Times" (02/26) "The U.S. has termed the Supreme Court decision to disqualify Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif Pakistan's internal matter and Washington would not comment on it, U.S. State Department said in a statement." "U.S. Concerned Over Pak Situation" The Nation" (02/26) "The United States on Wednesday voiced concern over the imposition of Governor's Rule in Punjab after Supreme Court disqualified Shahbaz Sharif from elected office, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said." "Political Parties Voice Concern Over Supreme Court Decision" "The News" (0/26) "The Leaders from various political parties expressed concern over the verdict of the Supreme Court verdict disqualifying Sharif brothers and apprehended that such decisions could lead the country towards political crisis and enhance the problems of the already overburden nation." "Unpopular Decisions Never Pay Off: Iftikhar" "The News" (02/26) "Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday said unpopular decisions would never be accepted by the people as they rejected the recent judgment of the Supreme Court (disqualifying the Sharif brothers)." "Clinton Pledges Close Consultations With Pakistan" "The News" (02/26) "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday pledged close strategic consultations with Pakistan on devising a way forward in the high-stakes Pak-Afghan region, as she met with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the start of a three-way American policy review, also engaging Afghanistan. Appearing jointly with the top U.S. diplomat after discussions lasting well beyond the scheduled one-hour, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi assured the Obama Administration of Islamabad's determination to address the menace of violent extremism." "Pakistan Seeks Drones From U.S. To Fight Terror" "The Nation" (02/26) "Pakistan has asked the U.S. to provide un-manned planes (drones) that would allow it to strike at militants hiding along the Afghan border, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday. Qureshi, who is in Washington for three-way talks with his counterpart from Afghanistan and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said Pakistan, and not the U.S., should control the missile strikes." "Gen. Kayani Discusses Regional Security With Gates" "The News" (02/26) "Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who is currently on an official visit to the United Sates, called on U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Wednesday. According to the ISPR, the Army Chief discussed matters of mutual interest with particular reference to security situation in the region. Meanwhile, Kayani called on Lieutenant General Mapples, Director Defence Intelligence Agency. During the day, the COAS also visited Pentagon and held a detailed meeting with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Michael Mullen in which they continued their discussions on regional strategic matters. Official bilateral round table talks were also held between the COAS and General George Casey, U.S. Army Chief." "Kayani Awarded Legion Of Merit" "The Nation" (02/26) "Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been awarded the Legion of Merit (degree of commander) as a mark and in recognition of his services by the U.S. Army." "Only 5pc Afghan Taliban Are Hard-Core Militants: Holbrooke" "Dawn" (0/26) "Only five percent of the Taliban militants in Afghanistan are hard-core, others can be persuaded to abandon violence, says Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan. In a television interview, Mr. Holbrooke strongly opposed an arrangement Pakistan reached with the Taliban militants in Swat earlier this month, saying that this would allow the militants to re-arm and regroup." "U.S. Detects Double Billing By Pakistan Navy" "Dawn" (02/26) "A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) accuses Pakistan Navy of submitting 'duplicative charges' for transport facilities provided in aid of war against terror. The double billing was detected during an audit by the Office of the Defense Representative at the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad." "No Deal In Bajaur: Official" "Dawn" (0/26) "The government denied on Wednesday having reached a peace agreement with militants in Bajaur and said that security forces would continue their operation in the restive agency. There is no peace deal, the operation is continuing as originally planned, a FATA Secretariat statement said on Wednesday." "Taliban Alliance Only Against U.S., Says Maulvi Nazir" "Daily Times" (02/26) "The top three Taliban factions in Pakistan have unified 'only to act together against the United States,' Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir told Ahmedzai Wazir elders in South Waziristan in a meeting earlier this week, a tribal elder told 'Daily Times' on Wednesday." "IDPs Return Homes As Taliban Remove Check Posts" "The News" (02/26) "The Swat Valley on Wednesday witnessed positive and negative developments as acts of looting and killing continued in Matta, Kabal and Khwazakhela, while internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned to their homes.... Meanwhile, Taliban fighters on Wednesday disbanded check-points and stopped carrying weapons in public a day after announcing indefinite ceasefire in Swat Valley." "India Urged To Respond Quickly To Pakistan's Queries" "Dawn" (0/26) "Pakistan urged India on Wednesday to quickly respond to its queries so that the Mumbai attack accused could be interrogated during their physical remand, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said on Wednesday." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Sharif's Disqualification," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (02/26) "The grounds for the Sharifs' disqualification were laid by a dictator and no one with an iota of common sense could accept that Pervez Musharraf was trying to uphold the rule of law or some elevated principle of justice by shutting the Sharif brothers out of electoral politics.... If Pakistan is ever to escape the morass of a dysfunctional polity, those issues must be resolved in the political realm. The judiciary has done a disservice to the people by injecting itself into a patently political issue in a way that will only worsen short-term instability and do nothing for long-term betterment." "Sharif Brothers' Ineligibility: Country Once Again Pushed Towards Political Chaos," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (02/26) "Although Mian Shahbaz Sharif has announced contesting by-election from the PA seat vacated due to his disqualification, his win this time would not make him the Chief Minister owing to a ban on holding CM officer for the third time. This ban could be undone only by the parliament and that does not seem to be happening.... It is ironic that country has been pushed towards instability just one year after formation of civilian democracy." "Decision To Disqualify Sharif Brothers," an editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (circ. 5000) (02/26) "No matter how the issue is analyzed, the outcome is that the present democratic set-up has been dealt a severe blow. The courts may have decided the case according to the law, but effigies would not be burning today had the political forces - especially those in power - shown sincerity in working together and foiling anti-democracy moves." "Political Repercussion Of Disqualifications Of Sharif Brothers," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (02/26) "It is regrettable that the former President Pervaiz Musharraf, who is involved in killing of hundreds of innocent Pakistanis, is roaming around scot free, and the popular leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif are facing disqualification from the Supreme Court. Time has come for the Pakistani nation to stand up for the cause of justice, or else there is likelihood that anarchy will reign the country." "Disqualification Of Sharif Brothers ... Beginning Of Political Wrangling?," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (02/26) "PML-N was forced to keep a soft corner for the PPP government in Islamabad owing to its (PML-N) administration in Punjab, but now it has no such stake in the present political setup and it will definitely concentrate all of its energies to pave way for mid-term polls." "Instability Rules," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/26) "If ever there was a wrong time for a fight-to-the death by the country's two leading political parties - this is it. If ever there was a time when we needed cross-party unity in the face of multiple onslaughts - this is it. The government is seen as floundering and weak.... The Taliban, whittling away at our sovereignty on the north-western borders, know well the benefits of negotiating with a weak government and will doubtless be quietly rubbing their hands in glee at this latest development. No political leader or representative of any party other than the PPP thinks that the judgment is anything other than bad news for Pakistan." "Tough Times Ahead For PPP After SC Decision," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (02/26) "There is no constitutional provision for any mid-term election but there is a tradition of military intervention to cut short prolonged agitation that threatens the 'security of the state.' This intervention can force the Prime Minister to dissolve the Parliament and order fresh elections under a neutral caretaker set-up. With terrorist elements uniting against the trio of 'Obama-Karzai-Zardari' and letting the Pakistan army off the hook, the PPP will face a tough test in the days and weeks to come." "Testing Times," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (02/26) "It is indeed unfortunate that the country has once again been thrown into the vortex of uncertainty. Positions seem to be hardening on all sides.... What lies ahead of us? A long period of turmoil and chaos? Or is there still hope? The signs are not encouraging. Ever since the two major parties signed the Murree accord to work together in the interest of democratic consolidation, things have been on a downward slide." "After The Verdict," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/26) "Being an all-powerful President as well as the Co-Chairman of the PPP, he (Zardari) is expected by many to stop the country, already reeling under the threat of militancy, from sliding into a crisis. He has to realize that what is at stake is the stability of the country and the future of democracy." "Political Fallout Of Court Verdict," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (02/26) "Imposition of a Governor's rule would be a setback for the democratic dispensation.... The general perception of citizens is that justice in this case is not seen to have been done. No doubt, the man in the street is intrigued by the course of events leading to the Sharifs' disqualification. We tend to believe that the turmoil within the higher judiciary has the potential to boomerang and erode rule of law and justice." "Sharif Brothers Ineligibility Upheld," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (02/26) "It is in the national interest that the government and the affected party do not take any step in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict that endangers the democratic process or affects the honor of the judiciary." "Decision And Its Consequences," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (02/26) "The first outcome of the Supreme Court's verdict is that the Governor Taseer's dream to rule Punjab has come true. We think that there was no need to impose Governor Rule in Punjab, as this act is going to set the country on fire. PML-N will benefit more from this verdict, and whenever elections will be held, PML-N will be the biggest beneficiary of this politically motivated judgment." "Disqualification of Sharif Brothers," an editorial in Karachi based left-wing Sindhi Daily "Awami Awaz" (Cir. 70,000) (02/26) "The verdict of the Supreme Court against Sharif brothers is continuation of the Musharraf era as it has been proved that our courts pronounce judgments keeping interests of the incumbent governments. This judgment has given a big below to the reconciliation process in the country." "Yet Another Positive Decision By Taliban," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (02/26) "During an FM radio address, Taliban leader in Swat Maulana Fazlullah has said that the Taliban will not attack government officials. Meanwhile, Mullah Umar has also asked the Taliban to immediately stop attacks on the Pakistan Army. This order by the Taliban leaders can become the basis of durable peace in the country. The Taliban's real demand of imposition of Shariat in Swat has been met and is being implemented. Therefore, the situation so far is heading in a positive direction. America and NATO are perturbed over the peace deal because they do not want Pakistan to be politically and economically stable." "Need To Be More Vigilant After Ceasefire," an editorial note in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (02/26) "The government must not sit idle following the peace treaty in Swat valley, and ceasefire in Bajaur, as unrest and turmoil take time to settle down completely. At a time when Pakistan is facing conspiracies of the neighbor countries and some big powers want to transfer the theatre of war to Pakistan, it is essential to remain more vigilant and cautious." "Need For Swat Like Treaties," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (02/26) "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi has briefed U.S. envoy Holbrooke on the advantages of the Swat peace deal. If America still has concerns about the peace deal then the solution is our withdrawal from this so-called war against terrorism. Peace could return to Pakistan territories only through talks and not through use of force." "Need To Spread Peace," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/26) "In an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, President Obama emphatically remarked, 'I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.' However, at the same time, one hopes that the strategists sitting in Washington would see the wisdom of our argument that the violation of our territorial sovereignty, particularly that which murders innocent civilians as well, does not help get rid of the extremist scourge." "The Malakand Imbroglio," an op-ed by I.A. Rehman in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (02/26) "The U.S. is an important party that considers itself affected by the ceasefire deal.... However, to say that the Malakand type deal could be good for Afghanistan but not for Pakistan.... References to a new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan do not include a willingness to accept the Afghan people's right to be the sole masters of their destiny and until that happens U.S. hopes that Pakistan will be able to maintain order on its side are unrealistic. Under these circumstances, optimism will be at a discount." "Peace In Swat Hanging By A Thread," an op-ed by Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/26) "It remains to be seen if the TTP is genuinely seeking peace or has chosen talks only to gain time to provide its war wary fighters some respite and for reinforcement and regrouping. Another source of threat to the accord is the American administration, which thinks the accord would embolden other militants while it might be used to turn Swat into another safe haven.... Can the Taliban and their American adversaries be persuaded to abandon their extreme positions and allow peace have a chance remains a question." "Hardliners, Moderates, Liberals And The State," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/26) "There are many complexities. The agreement on Shariah rule is terrifying in terms of the implications it has for the rest of the country. It is also an outcome of the failure to bring tracts across the country into the mainstream of nationhood and offer them the same rights offered - at least in theory - to the majority of its citizens under the Constitution.... The unjust and dangerous precedent of permitting different legal codes to operate in different parts of the country is set by the state itself." "It Is Af-Pak-Ind, Mr. Obama," an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/26) "What Pakistan should insist on in talks with the Obama Administration is that India should stop using its presence in Afghanistan to fuel terrorism, insurgency and subversion in Pakistan. It will not be easy to get India to kick its old habits. But Washington should try. The success of the regional approach to Afghanistan, which the Obama Administration advocates, depends to a great extent upon good behavior on the part of India. Clearly, 'Af-Pak' requires a further hyphenation. It should be 'Af-Pak-Ind.'" GFeierstein