LAWYERS: "OUR MARCH HAS BEGUN."

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000514

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR PK
SUBJECT: LAWYERS: "OUR MARCH HAS BEGUN."

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 495

B. ISLAMABAD 506

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).


1. Summary: In an attempt to pre-empt tens of thousands of
protesters from converging on Islamabad, with marches
starting March 12 and a sit-in planned for March 16, the GOP
arrested dozens of lawyers, opposition party workers and
civil society activists (reftels). The top opposition
leadership has not been arrested. These groups are demanding
the reinstatement of all judges deposed by former President
Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007; the Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) is also trying to reverse the February
25 Supreme Court decision disqualifying the PML-N's Sharifs
from holding public office. The GOP's actions March 11 are
legally sanctioned under Pakistan's Penal Code in order to
ensure the "maintenance of public order." Both civilian and
military governments have previously used these provisions to
undercut grass-root organization. The GOP is betting that
the arrest of mainly second-tier party organizers will weaken
turnout for the march/sit-in at the district level. Geo News
also disappeared from broadcast in some areas midday. All of
these actions are fodder for Nawaz Sharif, who continues to
label President Zardari as "another Musharraf." End summary.

"Our march has begun."
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2. (C) One day before the lawyers' "long march" was set to
begin in Karachi and Quetta, the GOP invoked March 11
Pakistan Penal Code Sections 141-160 ("Section 144") in
Punjab and Sindh provinces. The provisions allow, among
other things, the detention of anyone threatening the
"maintenance of public order" or gathering in groups larger
than four persons. Police will reportedly implement these
provisions with full force of the law, which have
historically been used by Pakistani governments to undercut
grass-roots organization.


3. (C) Dozens of opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) and religious Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party adherents
have been arrested and taken to local police stations
(septel). JI contacts claim as many as 200 of their party
workers, throughout Pakistan but mainly in Punjab, are in
police custody; most are from JI's incendiary students' wing.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan boardmember Tahira
Abdullah had been arrested early March 11 and taken to an
Islamabad Police Station. She was later released, according
to Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Islamabad Police also
attempted to arrest midday lawyers' leader Athar Minallah,
but withdrew once TV news cameras arrived on the scene.


4. (C) It appears a few party leaders have been placed under
house arrest, including PML-N chairman Zafar-ul-Haq. Neither
PML-N's Sharifs nor the lawyers' Aitzaz Ahsan and Ahmad Kurd
have been restricted in their movements or activities. This
has been confirmed independently by Embassy or CG Lahore.
Many leaders, though, are avoiding returning home for fear of
arrest. PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal vowed the GOP's actions
would not deter his party's participation in the
march/sit-in. He charged President Asif Zardari of employing
"Musharraf tactics."


5. (C) PolOff spoke early March 11 with Minallah, attorney
for deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Minallah stated that, because of the GOP's pre-emptive
actions, lawyers, party workers and civil society activists
would attempt to make it to the capital for the March 16
sit-in by any means, not as part of an obvious tailgate
motorcade. With the sounds of a control room in the
background, Minallah declared, "Our march has begun."

Off the Air
- - - - - -


6. (U) In some areas of the country, Geo News disappeared
from the air midday.

Playing to the Crowd
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7. (U) Also March 11, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif addressed more
than 20,000 in Abbottabad, Northwest Frontier Province

ISLAMABAD 00000514 002.2 OF 002


(NWFP). Coalition partner Awami National Party (ANP)
provincial leader Bashir Bilour had earlier announced
"Section 144" would not be imposed in NWFP. He added the
lawyers had the right to demonstrate, and, in fact, there
were no arrests reported surrounding this Abbottabad rally.


8. (SBU) Nawaz told the masses that Zardari was playing
politics instead of addressing Pakistan's economic crisis.
Sharif stressed that Zardari was breaking promises made by
his slain wife, Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir
Bhutto. He had trusted Zardari; Zardari betrayed his trust.
He called on PML-N supporters to make it to Islamabad by any
means for the September 16 sit-in, predicting the event would
be "a defining moment in the country's history." Pakistanis
needed to take back their country, he concluded, "I swear by
God, I want justice for you."


9. (C) Comment: Though the GOP's March 11 actions are
perfectly legal, the use of "Section 144" by previous
Pakistani governments (including military) has allowed Nawaz
to easily compare Zardari to Musharraf. End comment.

PATTERSON