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Viewing cable 08ISLAMABAD743, PAKISTAN: FROM HERE TO A NEW GOVERNMENT
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08ISLAMABAD743 | 2008-02-20 14:41 | 2011-08-26 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Islamabad |
VZCZCXRO2602
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0743/01 0511441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201441Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5251
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8189
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7310
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2846
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9012
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 4863
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3566
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000743
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: FROM HERE TO A NEW GOVERNMENT
REF: ISLAMABAD 696
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The results of Pakistan's February 18
general elections should be confirmed in about a week. The
Election Commission notifies the results to the prior Speaker
of the National Assembly, who calls the new Assembly into
session. After taking oaths, the new Assembly will elect a
new speaker; this should occur by March 14. Then, the
Assembly will be able to choose from its number a Prime
Minister. This name will be forwarded to President
Musharraf, who will administer the oath of office. The new
Prime Minister will then have to prove his majority with a
vote of confidence within 60 days. The caretaker cabinet
will govern until a new Prime Minister is sworn in. End
summary.
Step by Step
------------
¶2. (U) Pakistanis went to the polls February 18 to elect new
National and Provincial Assembly members to five year terms.
¶3. (SBU) Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) is busy summing
up voting figures forwarded to it by the district returning
officers (DROs). Most of the 268 constituencies which were
contested have been "unofficially" called. The ECP expects
to provide complete "unofficial results" late February 20
(septel). ECP Secretary Kunwar Dilshad told Ambassador
February 15 that results would not be certified for about a
week after the elections.
¶4. (SBU) There are now approximately 27 candidates elected as
independents. Ten of these represent the tribal areas and
are not allowed to officially align with any party. The
other independents will have three days from the official
notification of results to identify the party with which they
will sit.
¶5. (U) Based on the official results, the ECP will calculate
what number of the 60 reserved women's and 10 non-Muslim's
seats will go to each party. Parties have already provided
their lists of candidates for these slots. These seats are
designated on a proportional basis. The women seats are
apportioned according to the parties' relative strength in
each province. The non-Muslim seats are apportioned
according to the parties' relative strength nationwide.
Seating
-------
¶6. (U) After the ECP certifies all winning candidates
(contested and reserved seats), it notifies the Office of the
Speaker of the National Assembly of the list of winners.
(Note: The Speaker is still Chaudhary Amir Hussain from the
former National Assembly; he remains speaker until replaced.)
¶7. (U) The Speaker's Office then summons the new legislators
into session. Under Pakistan's Constitution, the National
Assembly is supposed to have three sessions each year, with
no more than 120 days between each session. The last session
ended on November 15, 2007, with the dissolution of the
former National Assembly. This constitutional provision
should force a new session to be called on or before March 14.
¶8. (U) Once the new assembly members are seated, their first
order of business will be to elect from themselves a new
Speaker. This is a constitutional, administrative position
for the body, different from the political position of Prime
Minister. The body can then take up other motions, including
the identification of its leader. This name is forwarded to
the President, who administers to that person the oath of
office of Prime Minister.
¶9. (U) Constitutionally, at this step, the President
"invites" the new Prime Minister to prove his majority, which
he must do within 60 days, with a vote of confidence in the
National Assembly. Musharraf will also officially "appoint
federal ministers" (the cabinet), but this is done "on the
advice of the Prime Minister."
¶10. (SBU) Comment: Musharraf's party controlled the National
Assembly and Senate from 2002-2007, so the process of
selecting a Prime Minister was more a matter of Musharraf
ISLAMABAD 00000743 002 OF 002
selecting his own choice, which the Assembly ratified. We
expect the formal rules to apply this time around. End
comment.
PATTERSON