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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 005101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PK PHUM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 4890 
 
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: During a courtesy call with Ambassador, 
Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammedmian Soomro reiterated the 
government's commitment to facilitate election observers.  He 
promised immediate action to resolve eviction notices and 
visa problems of the International Republican Institute and 
The Asia Foundation, both of which are working on election 
programs funded by the USG.  Soomro looked to the political 
parties, the domestic media, and the international community 
to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections on January 8. 
 He informed the Ambassador that the state of emergency 
"would be phased out," leaving some remote areas under 
emergency rule.  Soomro was unsympathetic to GEO TV, the last 
broadcaster to remain off the air because of state of 
emergency restrictions.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) The Ambassador met November 28 with Pakistan's 
Caretaker Prime Minister (and Senate Chairman) Muhammedmian 
Soomro.  Constitutionally, Soomro's primary duty as caretaker 
is to oversee Pakistan's election process until a new 
government can be formed following the January 8 
parliamentary elections. 
 
IRI/TAF Problems 
---------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The Ambassador informed Soomro that U.S. and 
U.S.-sponsored election observer missions were currently 
finalizing their coverage plans and would likely increase the 
number of observers.  She welcomed statements by President 
Musharraf that Pakistan was open to all election observers, 
but noted that both the International Republican Institute 
(IRI) and The Asia Foundation's (TAF) domestic group had run 
into separate problems. 
 
¶4. (C) IRI has been asked (twice) by the Economic Affairs 
Division to leave the country (we suspect after IRI published 
a poll showing Musharraf's declining popularity).  That 
Division has refused to sign a memorandum of understanding 
with the organization, which would allow it to continue its 
operation in-country.  Some of IRI's international observers 
are facing delays in receiving visas from Pakistani Embassies 
abroad.  In addition, TAF's local director had his Pakistani 
visa canceled (for unclear reasons) by the Interior Ministry. 
 Ambassador raised these issues with former Interior Minister 
Aftab Sherpao, but Sherpao was replaced by a caretaker 
minister before he resolved either the problems of either IRI 
or TAF. 
 
¶5. (C) Soomro was surprised to hear these details and 
immediately ordered his staff to call the appropriate 
ministries to resolve both issues.  He echoed Musharraf's 
statements that observer missions would enjoy "free access" 
and that they would have the government's "full support." 
Soomro added, "We believe the more observers, the better, so 
there will be no doubt cast on these elections."  He then 
speculated that electoral fraud would be impossible because 
of the intense focus of the international community and of 
domestic media. 
 
Free and Fair Elections 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) However, Soomro placed responsibility for a credible 
election process on the shoulders of Pakistan's political 
parties.  "As caretaker, I want wide participation," adding 
that he had tried to establish contact with the opposition to 
respond to their concerns.  He noted that most of these 
parties chose not to comment on the Election Commission's 
Code of Conduct for Political Parties.  Soomro rhetorically 
asked, "If the political parties do not cooperate, how can 
the government react?" 
 
¶7. (C) For practical reasons, most (if not all) of the 
opposition would participate in the parliamentary elections, 
Soomro predicted.  He announced that the voter roll was now 
complete, though not yet posted on the Election Commission's 
website.  Referring to the military change of command 
ceremony earlier in the day, Soomro noted that this would be 
 
ISLAMABAD 00005101  002 OF 002 
 
 
"the first truly peaceful transition" from one government to 
the next. 
 
State of Emergency 
------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) Whether the state of emergency would be lifted before 
the elections, Soomro would only say: "If things improve in 
Swat."  He predicted that emergency would be phased out, and 
"only certain districts would remain under emergency." 
GEO TV: Odd Man Out 
------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) The Ambassador repeated the U.S. position that the GOP 
should immediately allow GEO TV to begin broadcasting again. 
Soomro replied that "only" 38 of 75 channels were blocked on 
November 3.  Since then, all but the four GEO channels were 
back on the air.  Soomro would only say that the GOP and GEO 
were "in discussions."  He claimed that all other stations 
had accepted the new media code of conduct: "It is 
universal."  An exception just for GEO could not be made.  He 
concluded that the new code was "in the public interest" and 
"drafted in consultation with media groups." 
 
¶10. (C) Comment: As Caretaker Prime Minister, Soomro has 
little power to make wide policy decisions, but we will 
continue to press him on the conduct of the elections. 
Separately, Post has requested that the MFA expedite the 
visas of IRI's international observer team members.  End 
comment. 
 
PATTERSON