VZCZCXRO9810
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKP #0784/01 3101230
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061230Z NOV 07 ZDK CTG RUEHSD 0028 3110307(VOL TO OTHERS)
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0161
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 3742
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0203
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2408
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4282

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KARACHI 000784 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ASEC CASC PK
SUBJECT: SINDH GOVERNOR SUMMONS THE CONSULAR CORPS TO HIGH 
TEA 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 4728 
 
KARACHI 00000784  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Consul General Kay Anske, reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 ¶1.  (C)  Summary:  On November 5, 2007, the Governor of 
Sindh summoned all Consuls General for a meeting to explain 
and justify the recent declaration of a State of Emergency. 
Within the one-sided conversation, the Governor touched upon 
press freedom, judicial activism, and how the abuse of 
freedom by the media and courts was adversely affecting the 
economy and the Global War on Terror (GWOT).  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C)  On November 5, 2007, Governor of Sindh 
Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan summoned all Consuls General to 
Governor,s House for &Hi-Tea8.  There were 2 teas held ) 
one for Islamic nations and one for all others.  Among those 
countries represented at the &others8 were China, France, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania (Trade Rep only), 
Russia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UK, and US.  The &others8 
tea lasted close to two hours.  (Note:  The Governor is a 
member of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), which is in the 
ruling party,s coalition.  End note.) 
 
--------------------------------- 
The State of Emergency 
--------------------------------- 
¶3.  (C)  The Governor started the meeting by giving the three 
main reasons for the State of Emergency (SOE) ) to stop the 
de-stabilization process; terrorist activity, especially the 
recent upsurge; and judicial activism.  He stated that only 
certain clauses of the Constitution were suspended.  Thus 
this SOE is actually strengthening, not weakening, Pakistan. 
 
¶4.  (C)  This was the first time in Pakistan,s history that 
the Parliament would be completing its term.  The GoP wants a 
free and fair election and a smooth transition.  To achieve 
this, the GoP entered into a reconciliation process and made 
compromises with the opposition.  The GoP had &cautiously8 
allowed freedom of the media.  Musharraf was the only leader 
to have done so; no previous leader had permitted freedom to 
the media.  In addition, the judiciary had been allowed to 
freely decide cases.  However, both the media and the 
judiciary had abused their freedom. 
 
¶5.  (C)  The GoP has focused on economic development, 
infrastructure, privatization, liberalization, and 
development of all sectors in both urban and rural areas.  If 
statistics of today are compared with those of 5 or 6 years 
ago, significant progress could be seen.  The biggest 
achievements of Musharraf have been:  Parliament completing 
its term, freedom of the media, and freedom of the judiciary. 
 All this has lead to economic progress, stronger defense, 
and reconciliation. 
 
¶6.  (C)  The Governor said that the decision to go to a State 
of Emergency was taken in good faith.  In the past, emergency 
actions were taken only to topple a government.  Today, the 
emergency was declared to sustain the present Government 
until Parliament finishes its term and new elections are held. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Pakistan is committed to the Global War on Terrorism 
(GWOT) and is a front line state in fighting terrorism.  In 
order to fight terrorism, a country needed a stable economy. 
Unfortunately, the media and the judiciary, by abusing their 
freedom, were endangering the economic progress that had been 
achieved. 
 
¶8.  (C)  In the meetings leading to the declaring of the SOE, 
various options were discussed.  According to the Governor, 
all attending agreed that Musharraf had provided the strong 
leadership needed to sustain the GWOT.  Therefore, Pakistan 
could not afford to have Musharraf leave office. 
Unfortunately, the backlash is from political parties unable 
to win votes and therefore, who have exploited the freedom of 
the media and judiciary for their own ends. 
 
----------------------- 
Judicial Activism 
----------------------- 
¶9.  (C)  In the past few months, the judiciary had taken over 
the job of the executive branch.  The courts were 
over-exuberant and making rulings on sui moto filings that 
should never have been filed with the courts.  About 1,000 
sui moto motions were still pending.  The courts were 
releasing accused criminals and terrorists before 
investigations were completed.  In Sindh, 48 terrorists, 
including Akram Lahori (sic), were declared acquitted with no 
reasons provided.  The executive branch was &blocked8 by 
the courts and a lot of time was spent in traveling and 
 
KARACHI 00000784  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
testifying before the courts.  With court appearances and the 
court ordered activities, the executive branch was neglecting 
its usual work.  As a result, terrorists were permitted to 
freely go about their business (of terror). 
 
¶10.  (C)  In the province of Sindh, there has been 100 
percent success in solving terrorism cases in the last 5-6 
years.  This was not easy to do given the very size of 
Karachi.  The GoP has reached out to the grassroots to make 
contact with people.  Thus, when something bad happens, there 
is no resentment or resulting violence. 
 
--------------- 
The Media 
--------------- 
¶11.  (C)  The Governor said that Musharraf had given freedom 
to the media and continues to be committed to freedom for the 
media.  However, a few news people imposed or inserted 
political opinion into their news reports.  As a result, 
&little negative8 things were blown out of proportion.  The 
economic situation had progressed greatly under Musharraf. 
But economic progress was being derailed by the over-activity 
of the courts and the media. 
 
¶12.  (C)  The GoP is committed to strengthening the political 
structure, which includes freedoms such as freedom of the 
press.  The media in the United Kingdom and United States do 
not show terrorism in a &depressing8 manner.  But in 
Pakistan, the media gives a bad view, showing Pakistan as a 
failed state and thus the media needs more time to mature. 
The Governor emphasized that the GoP could not allow such bad 
views and exaggeration.  The number one priority of the media 
should be the national interest, not their own individual 
interests.  The GoP wants a media that is objective and will 
work for the national interest. 
 
---------------------------------- 
The Upcoming Elections 
---------------------------------- 
¶13.  (C)  When asked if the elections were to be delayed, the 
Governor responded that any delay would be in accordance with 
the Constitution.  To have elections, a peaceful environment 
was needed.  Musharraf is committed to holding elections on 
time and not dissolving Parliament.  The SOE meant that there 
was not a peaceful environment conducive to holding 
elections.  However, the decision to delay the elections had 
not yet been made. 
 
¶14.  (C)  Parliament is the supreme body and it chose 
Musharraf to be President with 57 percent of the votes cast. 
Since Parliament is elected and represents the voters, one 
could argue that 57 percent of the electorate chose Musharraf 
to be President.  The majority of Pakistanis is moderate and 
continues to support Musharraf. 
 
¶15.  (C)  When asked about allowing political activity, the 
Governor responded that the GoP must protect the ordinary 
citizen.  It had been criticized for not taking action sooner 
with the Red Mosque incident.  The GoP continues to arrest 
suspects but the courts continue to release them.  In at 
least one case, the released suspected terrorist then went on 
to commit other acts of terrorism.  Therefore, in order to 
protect its citizens, the GoP must control political 
activity.  Extraordinary circumstances needed extraordinary 
responses. 
 
-------------------------------- 
And in conclusion((. 
-------------------------------- 
¶16.  (C)  The Governor stated that total freedom is simply 
not possible, as terrorists will exploit the freedom.  A 
government must balance the Constitution and freedoms granted 
with the need to protect society.  The Governor stated that 
it had been a mistake to grant so much freedom in such a 
short period of time.  Therefore, the GoP must now limit 
freedom. 
 
¶17.  (C)  The Governor concluded by repeating that Pakistan 
is a moderate state.  The GoP could not allow extremists to 
take control, not even in certain parts.  Therefore, the GoP 
was activating the &silent majority8 through the 
declaration of the SOE. 
 
-------------- 
Comment 
-------------- 
¶18.  (C)  The meeting was more of a staged event with the 
press present for at least half of the meeting.  The Governor 
justified the State of Emergency, as would be expected.  It 
 
KARACHI 00000784  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
appeared that the Governor had been given a set of talking 
points, which he repeated in different words, again and 
again.  Only the US CG and the UK (representing HMG and EU) 
expressed their respective Governments, grave concerns. 
Hopefully the messages from the UK, EU and US were understood 
and forwarded to Islamabad. 
 
¶19.  (C)  On a different note, about the same time as this 
&hi-tea8 with the Governor, just a block or so away, the 
police were storming the Bar Association Room at the Sindh 
High Court, beating attorneys with their police batons and 
arresting about 50 attorneys.  Also about the same time, just 
down the street from the Governor,s House, the police and 
Rangers were storming the Karachi Press Club, beating 
protestors with their police batons and arresting journalists 
and political leaders. 
ANSKE