SHAHBAZ SHARIF CLAIMS ZARDARI GOVERNMENT LACKS CREDIBILITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAHORE 000175 E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/31/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER TU PK SUBJECT: SHAHBAZ SHARIF CLAIMS ZARDARI GOVERNMENT LACKS CREDIBILITY CLASSIFIED BY: Carmela Conroy, Principal Officer, Consulate Lahore, U.S. Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) This is an action request for S/SRAP. Please see para 8. ¶2. (C) Summary: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told PO August 31 that the federal government as lacked credibility, hampering improvement in economic and social development. He pledged to prosecute the perpetrators of the August 1 "madness" against Christians in Gojra and make reparations to their victims. U.S. assistance to Pakistan should be coordinated with the provincial government, transparent and well targeted. On the recent media flurry of bribery accusations, he insisted that he would remain aloof and focus on governance. He asked that the U.S. follow up with Turkish authorities on a request that he made for law enforcement training in Punjab. End Summary. - - - The Gojra Violence Was "Madness" - - - ¶3. (C) In an August 31 introductory call with Principal Officer, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif termed the August 1 violence in Gojra village "madness." The police have jailed the perpetrators, who will remain in prison, despite requests by relatives and associates that Sharif intervene and release them. He acknowledged that the local administration should have done more to prevent the violence. Sharif sacked the Toba Tek Singh District Coordination Officer (DCO),replacing him with the DCO from Khanewal District, who had dealt with sectarian strife before. Sharif also appointed a retired justice to investigate and report on the incident. The justice recently completed the interviews for the report; Sharif agreed to share with us the report once completed. ¶4. (C) Asked about modifying the blasphemy law to prevent religious-based violence from recurring, Shahbaz asserted the current administration lacked the credibility to do so. He forecasted that a more credible government "further down the line" could amend the blasphemy law. - - - Make Assistance Transparent - - - ¶5. (C) Shahbaz asked that the USG work closely with the provincial governments to plan and program development assistance in south Punjab. Full transparency would help residents understand the benefits that the USG brought to Pakistan. He assessed that the strike on Baitullah Mahsood had reduced somewhat anti-U.S. sentiment, and properly implemented assistance programs would capitalize on the more cooperative mood. He was eager to receive a briefing on the two surveys conducted by USAID in south Punjab so far. - - - Governance Matters, Not Scuttlebutt - - - ¶6. (C) Shahbaz decried the recent spate of media reports about bribes and political deals as distracting from the social and economic development of the country. He claimed he would remain aloof from the issue, which hurt the credibility of the government. He would attempt to convince fellow Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members to avoid gossip at a September 1 party meeting in Raiwind. Dealing with the scuttlebutt wasted too much energy at a time when Pakistan needed good governance. ¶7. (C) As an example of bad governance, he pointed out that the federal government had ignored a recommendation from the Economic Coordination Committee to import 200 tons of sugar. The government scrapped the report because of political pressure from Zardari's cronies, which caused the sugar shortage during Ramadan, he claimed. The entire government in Islamabad lacked credibility because of such incidents. - - - Action Request: Law Enforcement Training From Turkey - - - ¶8. (C) Shahbaz mentioned that he had requested law enforcement training from the Turkish government several weeks before, but had not yet received a response. He asked the U.S. to urge Turkey to reply quickly. Action request: Please inform post of any response from the Turkish government on law enforcement training. End request. - - - Lahore to New York Direct - - - ¶9. (C) PO noted that the press had reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had conducted a survey of Lahore airport as a first step to approve direct flights from Lahore to New York. Shahbaz welcomed direct flights as an important step that would help bring more foreign investment to Punjab. - - - Comment: Shahbaz Wants to Work with U.S. - - - ¶10. (C) Shahbaz has maintained a close working relationship with post, and his (and his brother's) enthusiasm for a partnership has helped keep Punjab Province a welcoming place for Americans. Implementing a large development program in south Punjab will require his continued cooperation. We should respond to his plea for transparency with a full briefing of the USAID surveys conducted so far. Furthermore, while the recent TSA survey of Lahore International Airport could lead the way to direct flights from Lahore to New York (septel),the start of much-needed visa services in Lahore would provide another feather in the cap for the Chief Minister. CONROY