VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #1808/01 2171032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051032Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4184
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9901
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5583
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1051
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7661
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1658
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001808 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 05, 2009 
 
Summary: Reports on national political developments, in the wake of 
the Supreme Court's ruling that declared the imposition of November 
3 emergency as unconstitutional, continued to dominate headlines in 
almost all newspapers on Wednesday.  Newspapers highlighted that 
"all five judges of Balochistan High Court including its chief 
justice resigned from their office."  All dailies also reported 
another incident of 'blasphemy' in which a factory owner and two 
others were killed for allegedly desecrating the Koran in Muridke, a 
suburb of Lahore.  Reports of the approval of a bill by the National 
Assembly aimed at combating domestic violence received front page 
display.  Several newspapers highlighted reports that fourteen 
people, ten of them women and children, were killed in clashes 
between security forces and militants in North Waziristan. 
 
Editorializing the rebuilding process in Swat, the populist and 
often sensational national English daily "The News," observed that 
"it is a question of determining the future of militancy in the 
region - and with this, very possibly, the future of Pakistan 
itself."  The center-right national English daily "The Nation," 
advised that "our military leadership should take proactive steps to 
assure the people of Swat, nay, the whole country, that they are on 
the same page on the issue of religious extremist militancy as the 
political government."  The Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily 
"Mashriq," noted that the "people of Swat rightly ask that how can 
they resume their routine life in the valley with the fact that the 
hardcore leadership of the militants have neither been killed, nor 
detained."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"All BHC Judges Call It A Day" "The News" (08/05) 
 
"Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai 
and all the other four judges of the court, who had taken oath under 
the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), resigned from their 
offices to escape the references against them in the Supreme 
Judicial Council (SJC)." 
 
"Factory Owner, Worker Killed In Muridke 'Desecration' Riot" "The 
News" (08/05) 
 
"Mian Najeeb Zafar, owner of Eastern Leather Factory and a laborer 
were killed and dozens of workers injured in a leather factory on 
the Muridke-Sheikhupura road near Kathiala village after a factory 
official allegedly incited laborers by accusing the owner of 
desecration of the Quranic verses." 
 
"Gojra Incident A Plot To Tarnish Pak Image: Malik" "The News" 
(08/05) 
 
"Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has categorically said that 
elements behind Gojra violence would be dealt with strictly saying 
Gojra incident is a planned conspiracy to defame Pakistan." 
 
"NA Bill Outlaws Domestic Violence" "Dawn" (08/05) 
 
"In a major move against domestic violence against women and 
children, the National Assembly passed a private bill on Tuesday 
aimed to prevent the prevalent curse through quick criminal trials 
and a chain of protection committees and protection officers." 
 
"10 Civilians, Four FC Men Die In NWA Clashes" "The News" (08/05) 
 
"Fourteen people, 10 of them women and children and four 
paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, were killed and several 
others sustained injuries in clashes between security forces and the 
militants in North Waziristan Agency on Monday night." 
 
"Four Killed In Air Strikes" "Dawn" (08/05) 
 
"Four militants were killed when helicopter gunships pounded 
hideouts of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Chappri 
Ferozekhel area of Lower Orakzai Agency on Tuesday, officials said." 
 
 
"Taliban Commander To Give Up Violence, Leave Maidan" "Dawn" 
(08/05) 
"Maulana Shahid alias Qari Shahid, a key commander of Miadan 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), announced on Tuesday that his group 
would lay down arms, leave the area and start a new life, while 
talking to local journalists by phone from an undisclosed location." 
 
 
"Forces Blow Up Madarassa, Militants' Houses In Shangla" "The News" 
(08/05) 
 
"Security forces demolished the Madarassa of Maulana Waliullah 
Kabulgrami and several houses of militants and their supporters in 
different areas in Puran Tehsil of the Shangla district on Tuesday." 
 
 
"Policeman Killed In Swat Clash" "The News" (08/05) 
 
"A cop was killed and a paramilitary soldier sustained injuries in a 
joint operation against the Taliban militants in Qalang area in 
Swat, while bodies of five militants were recovered from Mingora 
city and its surroundings on Tuesday, official sources said." 
 
"Courts, Schools Reopen In Buner" "Dawn" (08/05) 
 
"Educational institutes and courts in the district resumed 
functioning on Monday.  Additional District and Sessions Judge 
Sajjad Anwar Khan remained present in his chamber and senior Civil 
Judge Manzoor Qadir and Civil Judge Islamudin Khan would start 
hearing of cases from Wednesday." 
 
"Swat Terrorists Behind Gojra Violence: Taseer" "Daily Times" 
(08/050 
 
"The terrorists who fled the operation in Swat were behind the 
recent violence against Christians in Gojra, Punjab Governor Salmaan 
Taseer said on Tuesday." 
 
"NATO Plans To Reorganize Command Structure For Afghanistan" "Dawn" 
(08/05) 
 
"NATO's governing body approved a plan on Tuesday to reorganize the 
alliance's command structure in Afghanistan by setting up a new 
headquarters to handle the day-to-day running of the war.  NATO 
spokesman James Appathurai said the new Intermediate Joint 
Headquarters in Kabul will be commanded by U.S. Lt-Gen David 
Rodriguez." 
 
"Widespread Rigging In 2008 Polls Revealed" "The News" (08/05) 
 
"The election 2008 was generally acknowledged as free and fair but a 
comprehensive report on Feb 18 polls by an independent civil society 
 
organization released on Tuesday reveals innumerable tales of 
pre-poll manipulations, rigging, intimidation and misuse of official 
machinery in favor of the former ruling party.  The report released 
by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a coalition of 30 
leading Pakistani civil society organizations, also reflected on how 
the administrative machinery and the Nazims were involved in 
pre-polls rigging." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Rebuilding Swat," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/05) 
 
"The task of re-building in Malakand goes well beyond simply 
fulfilling the needs of people.  It is also a question of 
determining the future of militancy in the region - and with this, 
very possibly, the future of Pakistan itself.  The militant threat 
it has faced in recent years has endangered the entire country.  We 
now stand at a point where it has become essential to vanquish the 
militants if we are to ourselves survive and move on....  The 
re-construction of Swat must aim also at addressing the many 
grievances of people who live there." 
 
"Signs Of Normalcy," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/05) 
 
"It is a testament to their resilience that schools have started 
functioning and parents have sent their boys and girls back to 
school.  It is yet another testament to their resilience that the 
sands of commerce have also started flowing again....  But all this 
does not imply normalcy.  This resilience is a coping mechanism of 
the residents of the valley; a dark fear still resides in their 
bosoms, one that needs to be shooed away by the actions of the 
state....  Our military leadership should take proactive steps to 
assure the people of Swat, nay, the whole country, that they are on 
the same page on the issue of religious extremist militancy as the 
political government." 
 
"Situation Not Satisfactory In Swat," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (08/05) 
 
"It will not be right to describe the security situation in Swat as 
satisfactory.  There is a need to completely wipe out extremists 
from the Malakand division, and the government must remain vigilant 
about any potential and would-be fanatics who are present in the 
populace.  The People of Swat rightly ask that how can they resume 
their routine life in the valley when the fact is that the hardcore 
leadership of the militants have neither been killed, nor detained. 
The religious leaders and the elders of the area are duty-bound to 
lead the misguided youths to the mainstream society, so that they 
don't fall prey to the ideology of radicals." 
 
"Ending Militancy," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/05) 
 
"Now that the military operation in Malakand Division is all but 
over and the residents have begun going back to their homes, the 
reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts must receive a fillip to 
make for the normal, daily life to return....  Islamabad would have 
to urge Washington to exert its influence over these countries to 
donate more money, besides markedly increasing its own contribution. 
 The economic uplift of Malakand would, after all, constitute a 
major achievement on the road to putting an end to terrorism from 
the region.  The U.S. also owes an explanation about the inordinate 
delay in the setting up of reconstruction opportunity zones in FATA 
that were so proudly announced by President Bush when he visited 
Islamabad more than three years ago.  They have yet to see the light 
of day." 
 
"Propaganda Of Al Qaeda Attack On Our Nuclear Installations," 
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (08/05) 
 
"The British House of Commons Foreign relations Committee's spiteful 
remarked that Al Qaeda has focused attention on Pakistan....  The 
report said that a direct attack on Pakistani nuclear installations 
cannot be ruled out....  This propaganda is in fact a product of a 
conspiracy by the satanic trio of America, India and Israel under 
which they want to takeover and destroy Pakistan's nuclear 
capabilities, technology and installations....  Our government and 
military leadership should understand the fact that America is not a 
friend and is engaged in worst hostility in the garb of friendship. 
It wants to make us helpless by depriving us of our nuclear 
capabilities." 
 
"New Policy Of American Troops Withdrawal From Afghanistan," an 
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) 
(08/05) 
 
"President Obama's administration is in the midst of conflicting 
thinking about Afghanistan....  Where America is not desirous of any 
conciliation with Al Qaeda, it does not hesitate to admit that the 
Taliban are a party to Afghanistan political makeup.  Encouraging 
information gleaned from American experts' conversations with media 
tells us that America wants to have a peaceful political resolution 
of the Afghan problem and for that it wants conciliation with the 
Taliban in order to bring them into the political mainstream of the 
country....  The Taliban and other Afghan parties should sit 
together to resolve their internal difference." 
 
"Obama's Exit Strategy," an editorial in the country's premier 
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (08/05) 
 
"The Taliban now clearly hear the ongoing contentious debate, in 
most of the Coalition's capitals, on the need and rationale to keep 
fighting in Afghanistan.  The argument, that eight years on, the 
victory in Afghanistan is not yet in sight, tends to receive wider 
public acceptance....  Obviously, the Obama administration wants a 
victory, with the help of additional troops, but quickly.  But the 
Taliban are in no such hurry, they can wait....  Another strand of 
the Obama exit strategy envisages the splitting up of the Taliban 
from the al Qaeda.  Again, this has no chance, because the war in 
Afghanistan is now more of a national resistance, than a 'Jihad' of 
the Cold War vintage." 
 
"Destroying Ourselves With A Little Help From The U.S.," an op-ed by 
Shireen M. Mazari in the populist, often sensational national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/05) 
 
"A cause for concern, is the U.S. plan to spend $1 billion to expand 
its presence in Islamabad - especially, since central to this plan 
is the importation of almost 400 Marines with hundreds of APCs. 
There is absolutely no logic to this, but who will tell our rulers 
who seem hell-bent on kowtowing before Washington?  Incidentally 
already the U.S. contingent in Pakistan is way over the sanctioned 
strength of 350 but does anyone in the corridors of power in 
Pakistan care?  Nor is the U.S. Marines presence restricted to 
Islamabad.  As some of us had been writing much earlier, they had 
been spotted in and around Tarbela also - where our military's 
Special Operation Task Force is located.  It now transpires that 
there are already 300 plus U.S. military personnel in this area - 
the so-called 'trainers.'  Of course, given the poor counter 
insurgency record of the U.S., heaven knows what training they will 
impart to our much better trained army! Also, if they were only 
'trainers' why would the U.S. buy a large plot of land around 
Tarbela and send twenty large containers there....  As if all these 
U.S. military and undercover officials crawling all over the 
sensitive parts of the country were not enough, it appears that the 
U.S. is also using private covert setups to further a dubious and 
threatening agenda within Pakistan....  Unless someone can stop the 
rot, it is only a matter of time before the U.S. forces cross over 
physically on the ground from across Afghanistan. They may not get 
the triggers they plan on seizing but they can trigger a push 
towards total anarchy.  Our rulers are certainly in self-destruct 
mode aided and abetted by the U.S." 
 
"Case Against Sufi," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (08/05) 
 
"Now the arrest of Sufi Muhammad should bring normalcy in the area 
and steps should be taken so that about two million displaced people 
should live in peace in their areas....  This opportunity should not 
be lost by giving another chance to the militants." 
 
"Revisiting Gojra," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English 
language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (08/05) 
 
"Gojra was no foreign hand.  It was done by the clerics wedded to 
the extremist rhetoric of certain sections of our religious 
establishment.  The signature of an extremist outfit was clearly 
there, particularly among the incendiary charges found on the scene 
of disaster.  Let us not forget that this is not going to stop 
unless the local administration is strengthened and the chief 
minister takes a closer look at South Punjab from where the 
destroyers of Gojra had come." 
 
"Muslims Too Should Mourn Killing Of Gojra Christians," an editorial 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (08/05) 
 
"The Christians are justified in their protests and we would urge 
Muslims as well to come forward and express fullest possible 
solidarity with the aggrieved community.  Muslims too should take 
out processions to condemn the incident and send a strong signal to 
a handful of troublemakers that there was no place for them in the 
civilized society." 
 
"In The Name Of Religion," an op-ed by Yaqoob Khan Bangash in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (08/05) 
 
"It is clear that some aspects of the recent attacks have been 
clearly planned, either by local extremists or by national or 
international groups whose reading of religion is markedly different 
from that of the average Muslim's.  The failure of the local 
administration, which in all these incidents was a silent spectator, 
is inexcusable.  Whatever the specific motives behind a particular 
attack, it is clear that intolerance still thrives in Pakistan, be 
it against another religion or another sect." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Feierstein