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P R 061108Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL LAHORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3989
INFO CIA WASHDC
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
AMEMBASSY KABUL 
AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
NSC WASHINGTON DC
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
AMCONSUL LAHORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAHORE 000069 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/3/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: CHIEF MINISTER SHAHBAZ SHARIF READY TO CORRECT GOVERNOR'S 
MISTAKES 
 
REF: Lahore 68 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Bryan Hunt, Principal Officer, Consulate Lahore, 
U.S. Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Newly restored Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif 
told Principal Officer (PO) April 3 that he will focus on the 
terrorism issues that afflicted Punjab while Governor Salman 
Taseer had taken over.  He noted that the March 31 court ruling 
only stayed his disqualification from office, while his brother 
Nawaz's ineligibility stood for the moment, but he expected that 
the Supreme Court would look favorably in the final ruling in 
mid-May.  Shahbaz related that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz 
(PML-N) has offered to maintain the coalition with the Pakistan 
People's Party (PPP) that the court ruling had restored, but he 
waited for the final decision from the PPP.  Regarding the PPP's 
offer for the PML-N to join the federal government, Shahbaz laid 
down several conditions and reiterated that his party lacks 
trust in President Asif Zardari.  End Summary. 
 
- - - 
Restored But Not Refreshed 
- - - 
 
¶2. (C) In an April 3 meeting with Principal Officer, Chief 
Minister Shahbaz Sharif reflected on the deterioration of 
Punjab's security under the leadership of governor's rule.  He 
decried that Governor Salman Taseer had ignored a specific 
warning issued March 25 that targeted police training 
facilities.  As a result, he explained, only three officers 
"without even sticks" guarded the entrance to the Manawan 
Training Center when it came under attack March 30.  He worried 
that, when connected with the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket 
team, Punjab now faces a stronger, more pervasive threat than 
before, but he resolved to confront the terrorists during the 
continuation of his tenure. Shahbaz related that he would 
preside over a gathering of security officials to discuss the 
threats to the province. 
 
- - - 
Court Ruling Gives New Life 
- - - 
 
¶3. (C) Regarding the March 31 court ruling, Shahbaz clarified 
that the court only stayed the disqualification against him; his 
brother Nawaz's ineligibility remained standing because it did 
not immediately impact the government.  He took the stay order 
as a sign that the Supreme Court will eventually rule in his and 
Nawaz's favor. 
 
- - - 
PML-N To Wait for PPP Decision 
- - - 
 
¶4. (C) Shahbaz confirmed press reports that the Pakistan Muslim 
League-Nawaz (PML-N) has invited the Pakistan People's Party 
(PPP) to sustain the previous provincial government coalition, 
which the court ruling had also effectively restored.  Although 
elements of the PPP appeared to lean in favor of the coalition, 
Shahbaz said that his party will wait for President Asif 
Zardari's decision, which will likely occur during the PPP's 
Central Executive Committee meeting in Naudero on April 3. 
(Note: The CEC meeting reportedly gave Zardari authority to 
decide.) 
 
- - - 
PML-N Reluctant to Join Federal Government 
- - - 
 
¶5. (C) PO asked whether the PML-N would take up the PPP's offer 
to re-form the coalition in the federal government.  Shahbaz 
acknowledged the offer, but noted that the PPP must satisfy 
several conditions before the PML-N would feel comfortable.  The 
pledge to create a committee in Parliament to implement the 
Charter of Democracy (COD) is only a start, he hedged.  The 
PML-N would also like to see more powers given to the Prime 
Minister, the position of President reduced to the ceremonial 
figure that Pakistan's Constitution had intended, and far 
greater accountability on foreign assistance.  PO assured 
Shahbaz that the U.S. would impose strict conditions and 
monitoring regimes on the increased assistance provided under 
the Kerry-Lugar legislation, but he noted that other countries, 
such as China and Saudi Arabia, usually lacked such strings when 
they provide financial support. 
 
¶6. (C) Shahbaz added that a general lack of trust in Zardari 
also hampers the PML-N's enthusiasm for joining the federal 
government.  He related that soon after the Long March 
resolution, Zardari resumed political games by delaying the 
restoration of Shahbaz and announcing a premature end to 
governor's rule.  Shahbaz said that he preferred working with 
Prime Minister Gilani, who has stood by his word so far. 
 
- - - 
Forward Bloc To Join Government Regardless 
- - - 
 
¶7. (C) If the PPP decides to maintain its tie-up with the PML-N, 
Shahbaz noted, he would still reshuffle his cabinet to 
incorporate those "forward bloc" members of the Pakistan Muslim 
League (PML) who will support the PML-N.  Accordingly, forward 
bloc members, now in the majority of the PML, attempted to force 
a change in the leader of the opposition April 3 with a motion 
in the provincial assembly.  Former Punjab Minister of Education 
Imran Masood told PO that once the PML joins the cabinet, the 
leader of the opposition would again change to reflect the 
remaining PML members still opposing the PML-N and possibly the 
PPP. 
 
- - - 
Don't Attack ISI 
- - - 
 
¶8. (C) Shahbaz remarked that the recent comments from U.S. 
officials blaming the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could 
only hurt Pakistan's effort to fight terrorism.  He noted that 
ISI and the PML-N have had extremely bad relations in the past, 
but American criticisms of ISI's failure to act against 
extremism dampens the willingness of the agency to work against 
terrorists.  "Whether you like it or not, ISI is the only game 
in town," he advised. 
 
¶9. (C)  Comment:  Following the brief, helter-skelter rule of 
Governor Taseer, Shahbaz's restoration brings a measure of 
stability and relief to the provincial government.  His apparent 
decision to concentrate on security is a welcome one, and we 
will continue to press PML-N to shut down Lashkar-e-Taiba and 
Jamaat-ud-Dawa facilities. 
 
 
HUNT