Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KARACHI59
2009-02-24 03:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:  

BALOCHISTAN - SUNNI CLERIC TV PERSONALITY GUNNED

Tags:  PTER PGOV PREL PHUM PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000059 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL PHUM PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN - SUNNI CLERIC TV PERSONALITY GUNNED
DOWN IN QUETTA

REF: A. A: KARACHI 42

B. B: KARACHI 26

C. C: KARACHI 18

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL STEVE FAKAN, REASONS 1.4 (b
) and (d).

Summary:
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000059

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL PHUM PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN - SUNNI CLERIC TV PERSONALITY GUNNED
DOWN IN QUETTA

REF: A. A: KARACHI 42

B. B: KARACHI 26

C. C: KARACHI 18

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL STEVE FAKAN, REASONS 1.4 (b
) and (d).

Summary:
--------------


1. (SBU) Unknown gunmen killed Maulana Iftikhar Ahmed
Habibi, a moderate Sunni cleric and television personality,
in Quetta on February 18. Habibi, shot on his way to appear
on a television program, was an advocate of harmonious Sunni
) Shi'a coexistence and had spoken out against recent
killings of Shi'as in Quetta. While speculation has centered
on Sunni extremists, no organization has yet claimed
responsibility for the attack. Given Quetta's increasing
complicated dynamics, responsibility might indeed lie
elsewhere.


2. (SBU) On February 18, two unknown gunmen on a motorcycle
killed moderate Sunni cleric and TV personality Maulana
Iftikhar Ahmed Habibi in Quetta. Habibi was the Balochistan
leader of the Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat religious organization and
appeared on a Baloch language television show on Bolan
Television, an affiliate of Pakistan Television (PTV).

Killed En Route to Work
--------------


3. (C) RSO sources said that Habibi was killed on his way to
the television station. PTV Producer Kayyum Baidar told Post
that Habibi was riding in a PTV vehicle at the time of the
shooting. The driver of the vehicle was also shot, but is
expected to recover.

Advocate of Sunni ) Shi'a Coexistence
--------------


4. (C) No one has claimed responsibility for the killing
yet, but speculation has centered on Sunni Islamic militants.
Habibi was a leading advocate of Sunni - Shi'a dialogue and
had recently been promoting harmony between the two groups on
television shows. He had publicly condemned recent attacks
on Shi'as in Quetta by a group claiming to represent the
terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (refs A, B).

Public Protests
--------------


5. (C) Sunni cleric and madrassa instructor Hafiz Khalil
told Post that around 40 ) 50 protestors gathered after the
slaying and threw rocks at government buildings, including
the Chief Secretary's office. Khalil noted that the
protestors were chanting anti-Wahibbi slogans. A strike
called for February 19 by supporters failed to materialize,
according to Dawn media reporter Saleem Shahid in a
conversation with Post.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Given Habibi's outspoken condemnation of recent
killings of Shi'as in Quetta, there is much speculation that
Sunni religious extremists could be responsible for the
assassination. This could well be true, but at this point,
other factors in Quetta's increasingly complicated scenario,
such as criminal gangs and Baloch nationalists, cannot be
ruled out.
FAKAN