R 061140Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL LAHORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3843
INFO AMCONSUL CHENNAI 
CIA WASHDC
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
AMEMBASSY KABUL 
AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMCONSUL KOLKATA 
AMCONSUL MUMBAI 
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
AMCONSUL LAHORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAHORE 000314 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/6/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PK PTER
SUBJECT: GOVERNOR TASEER KEEPS PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER ALERT 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Clinton Taylor, Acting Principal Officer, 
Consulate Lahore, U.S. Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: In response to a series of critical letters that 
Punjab Province Governor Salman Taseer sent to Chief Minister 
Shahbaz Sharif in November, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah 
circulated incriminating photographs depicting Taseer and his 
family as un-Islamic.  Although the leaders of the two political 
parties calmed emotions on both sides, the ongoing feud 
demonstrates Taseer's role as a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) 
thorn in the side of the Punjab provincial government, pricking 
the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) without toppling the 
coalition.  The political drama, however, has dented the already 
not-so-clean reputation of Taseer, and by extension the PPP, 
while Sharif has taken the high road and let his proxy Sanaullah 
argue on his behalf.  Ultimately, the exchange has sustained the 
tension between the two political parties' efforts to compete 
with each other and rule together in a coalition provincial 
government.  End Summary. 
 
- - - 
Taseer's Letters to CM Ruffle PMLN Feathers 
- - - 
 
¶2. (SBU) In an effort to rile the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz 
(PMLN)-dominated provincial government, Punjab Governor Salman 
Taseer sent Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif three letters in the 
first two weeks of November that criticized the PMLN's efforts. 
According to news reports, one letter directed the provincial 
government to hold a long-delayed cabinet meeting and appoint a 
prosecutor general to improve the judicial process.  Another 
letter, responding to an incident in which the Punjab government 
removed doctors allegedly blamed for the deaths of patients, 
warned the Chief Minister against harassing medical 
professionals. Punjab media interpreted the letters as a 
challenge to the competency of the provincial government and 
cited it as further evidence of Taseer's ongoing attempts on 
behalf of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to dethrone the PMLN. 
 
- - - 
Letters Prompt Mudslinging from PMLN 
- - - 
 
¶3. (C) Responding to the letters, Punjab Law Minister Rana 
Sanaullah held a press conference November 19 in which he 
blasted the private life of Taseer and his family, and 
distributed photographs showing Taseer's "loose" lifestyle.  The 
photos, which several contacts received by email and media 
reports noted were at least two-years old, show Taseer drinking 
alcohol; his son drinking wine and lounging on a beach with 
bikini-clad women; and his daughter swimming in a pool with men 
and wearing shorts during physical education class at the Lahore 
American School.  Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) affiliated 
attorney Chaudhry Fawwad Ahmed told poleconoff December 1 that 
he had seen videos showing worse behavior.  "Everyone drinks 
privately, but when you hold public office, this behavior is 
irresponsible, especially in a very conservative area," he said. 
 
¶4. (C) The PPP fought back November 20, as provincial leader 
Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan denounced Sanaullah's defamation of 
Taseer's family.  "Even the worst of enemies show respect 
towards each other's families," he declared.  The PPP Members of 
the Provincial Assembly (MPA) further reminded Sanaullah that 
the "letters of advice" sent by the governor fall well within 
the constitution.  Zardari added his complaints in a November 19 
phone call to Nawaz Sharif, during which the President demanded 
that Sharif take action against Sanaullah and refrain from 
further attacks on the governor. 
 
- - - 
Taseer's Reputation Dented 
- - - 
 
¶5. (C) Ex-PMLN Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Afzal 
Dogar, who continues to advise the Sharif family, explained to 
poleconoff November 19 that Taseer, who comes from a wealthy 
background, considers the Sharif clan "nouveau riche."  At a 
time when the PPP and PMLN have few differences in policy, he 
noted, the photographs highlight the difference in "principles" 
between the parties.  Taseer's "western playboy ways" clash with 
the PMLN's less secular and more conservative outlook, he 
contended.  Raja Amir Khan, who contested an MPA seat in Sialkot 
for the PPP, told PolEconoff December 1 that Taseer "is 
freelancing" and called him a "political novice."  Moreover, he 
noted, the governor has few ties to the PPP.  Fawwad Ahmed also 
offered that Taseer's actions have "only benefited the PMLN." 
 
- - - 
 
Sanaullah Says Governor is "Like a Brother" 
- - - 
 
¶6. (SBU) Sanaullah reversed his position November 20, and 
announced in the Provincial Assembly that he treated Taseer like 
a relative.  "The governor is like my brother, his daughters are 
like my daughters and his wife is like my sister," he told the 
Assembly.  The PMLN, represented by Minister Chaudhry Abdul 
Ghafoor, also participated in a November 20 procession in Lahore 
marking solidarity with the Zardari government. 
 
- - - 
Lingering Disagreements Remain 
- - - 
 
¶7. (SBU) Despite the apparent reconciliation between the PPP and 
PMLN, Sanaullah resumed his complaints at a November 22 press 
forum, where he hinted that the PPP recognized that Taseer had 
overstepped his role.  "We have settled issues with our 
coalition partners in the province, as the governor has no legal 
right to write letters to the provincial government," he 
explained.  "He cannot advise the provincial government, and the 
government was not answerable to him, as it was only answerable 
to the Punjab Assembly."  When a journalist showed Sanaullah a 
photograph of him with a glass of wine, he swore an oath that he 
does drink alcohol. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Taseer also asserted his right to send the Chief 
Minister letters.  He justified the letters under Articles 129 
and 131 of the Constitution on November 25 as within his 
prerogative to ask for information about the administrative 
affairs and policies of the provincial government.  He also told 
journalists November 30 that he will continue to exchange "love 
letters" with the Chief Minister.  In fact, he told the press 
December 3 that he will soon send a letter protesting the 
treatment of students by the police in a December 2 clash at 
Punjab University. 
 
- - - 
Comment: Differences Set Aside for Now, But Tension Remains 
- - - 
 
¶9. (C) Taseer's continuous pricking of the provincial government 
serves as a reminder that the PMLN must continue to reckon with 
the PPP as a provincial partner.  Taseer's actions show that he 
has little fear of the Chief Minister, and that he stands ready 
to topple the government if President Zardari decides to make a 
political play for Punjab.  In the meantime, Taseer can keep the 
provincial government on its toes, even though Sharif has earned 
growing popular support with his good governance policies. 
 
 
HUNT