Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR31
2009-02-19 11:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

MILITANTS KILL PESHAWAR MPA

Tags:  PTER MOPS PGOV PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6651
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHPW #0031 0501151
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191151Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7838
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4613
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 1755
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 1762
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 1397
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1031
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0793
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUMICEA/USSOCOM INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4896
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000031 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/19/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: MILITANTS KILL PESHAWAR MPA

REF: A) Peshawar 0004, B) 08 Peshawar 0509, C) 08 Peshawar 0504, D) 08 Peshawar 0152

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000031

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/19/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: MILITANTS KILL PESHAWAR MPA

REF: A) Peshawar 0004, B) 08 Peshawar 0509, C) 08 Peshawar 0504, D) 08 Peshawar 0152

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------


1. (C) In the first attack on a Member of the Provincial
Assembly (MPA) in Peshawar, Alam Zeb Khan was killed on February
11 when militants detonated a remote-controlled improvised
explosive devise (IED) as his car passed a market area. Khan's
murder continues a trend of militant attacks on members of the
ruling Awami National Party (ANP). This attack demonstrates the
ability of the militants to use IEDs within the provincial
capital of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and undermine
public confidence in the government. End summary.

Militants Kill Peshawar MPA
--------------


2. (C) In the first attack on a Member of the Provincial
Assembly (MPA) in Peshawar, Alam Zeb Khan was killed on February
11 when militants detonated a remote-controlled IED as his car
passed a market area. Alam Zeb Khan, 48, was one of only two
members of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) Provincial
Assembly representing a northeastern constituency in Peshawar
District, and was a leader in the ANP. The 5 kg device exploded
in Momin Town, Peshawar, near Khan's residence, destroying
Khan's car and injuring six others.


3. (C) In addition to the violence directed against ANP members
in Swat, previous notable attacks against ANP leaders in other
areas include: a December suicide attack on an ANP elections
camp in Buner which killed 33; a November suicide attack at a
sports complex in Peshawar which failed to hit its target, NWFP
Senior Minister Bashir Bilour; an October failed suicide attack
on ANP Central President Asfandyar Wali Khan in Charssada; and a
February 2008 suicide attack which killed at least 30 at an ANP
election rally attended by ANP provincial President Afrasiayab
Khattak (Ref. A-D).


4. (C) Alam Zeb Khan, elected to the NWFP Assembly (Peshawar-1)
in the February 2008 general elections, stood out as a likely
militant target. He was a progressive and secular politician
openly critical of militants. Khan was a populist leader, an
advocate for the poor, and a champion of education,
infrastructure and development. He led the way in establishing
Bacha Khan Degree College for Girls and a street pavement
project in his native Momin Town, Peshawar. Khan was a post
contact and was highly respected by his constituents. Unlike
other local politicians, Khan insisted on living among his
constituents, traveling openly, often without security. He died
after inspecting a street-pavement project in his district.

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


5. (C) MPA Alam Zeb Khan represented the kind of leader
threatening to militants: popular, not intimidated by the
militants or their demands, and progressive. Khan's murder
continues the trend of militant attacks on leaders of the ruling
ANP, a campaign that is taking a visible toll on ANP leader
Asfandyar Wali Khan who has had little presence in the province
since last year's attack on him. The pattern of targeted
killings, intimidation, and departure of community leaders is
one that we have already seen in the tribal areas with
consequences for the government's ability to rally public
support for its cause. A similar trend in the NWFP can only
spell further trouble for maintaining the writ of the government
on Pakistan's western border. However, ANP leader Asfundyar
Wali Khan told Ambassdor February 19 that the attack would
further lower popular support for the militants and prompt
revenge efforts by the family.

TRACY