VZCZCXRO2828
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKP #0015/01 0201020
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201020Z JAN 10
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1479
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0936
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0327
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0372
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1923
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2787
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4669
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000015 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
 
SUBJECT: KARACHI - AMBASSADOR MEETS MQM LEADERSHIP 
 
Classified by: Consul General Stephen G. Fakan, Reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  In a January 6 meeting, the Ambassador discussed 
wide ranging issues with leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). 
MQM discussed the aftermath of the December 28 bombing and arson in 
Karachi, MQM's relationship with PPP, and the development needs of 
Karachi.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) On January 6, Ambassador Patterson met with leaders of 
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) at their Karachi headquarters.  MQM 
Rabita Committee Member Kanwar Khalid Younus, Federal Minister for 
Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri, Provincial Ministers Sardar Ahmed 
and Faisal Sabzwari, Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal, and Member National 
Assembly Haider Abbas Rizvi represented MQM. 
 
-------------------------- 
Karachi Attack and Taliban 
--------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU)  According to Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal, the death toll 
of December 28's attack in Karachi is 45, with 23 still hospitalized. 
 29 buildings, housing over 1800 shops including major wholesale 
markets for the country, were destroyed or damaged.  The city 
government is working with local contractors and the Karachi Chamber 
of Commerce & Industry to quickly repair damaged buildings and enable 
traders to reopen as soon as possible.  The city government is 
providing funding for private medical care for those still 
hospitalized and encouraging schools to waive six months of tuition 
for children of those affected. 
 
¶4.  (C)  According to Kamal, Pashtuns were involved in the incident - 
or at least those involved are hiding in predominately Pashtun areas 
of Karachi.  Law enforcement agencies captured 8 - 9 gangs with 
suicide - bomb material.  He blamed law enforcement agencies for the 
arson following the initial explosion.  According to Kamal, within 
seven minutes of the blast, all law enforcement personnel were 
running away.  The strategy of the police and home minister was to 
withdraw police and rangers and let the arson continue in order to 
prevent the violence from spreading to other parts of the city. 
 
¶5.  (C)  Other theories about responsible parties abound.  Babar 
believes the Imamia Student Organization - a radical Shi'a group with 
ties to Iran - is involved, while others state the local police are 
trying to blame MQM.  This theory includes the belief that MQM let 
the buildings burn because they wanted the land. 
 
¶6.  (C)  When asked about the Quetta Shura and existence of Taliban 
in Karachi, Babar responded that the Taliban are "most probably in 
Karachi," and mentioned the neighborhoods of Sultanabad, 
Superhighway, and Sorab Goth as the main locations.  Areas near the 
Superhighway and Sorab Goth were described as the "FATA of Karachi," 
and when Pashtuns settle in Karachi, they always choose strategic 
areas such as road junctions and high ground.  Sabzwari does not want 
to blame any group, but noted that the reality is most of the Taliban 
hail from Pashtun areas.  He notices there are more and more Taliban 
notables in Karachi. 
 
----------------------------- 
Concerns for Government 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C)  Kamal said there is "confused democracy right now, and no 
one knows what will happen tomorrow."  The local governance system is 
still unresolved in Sindh, and Kamal believes the National 
Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is distracting leaders, and that many 
decision makers are "oblivious."  When pressed by the Ambassador as 
to whether or not they support the government, Kamal responded that 
the philosophy of Altaf Hussain is to support democracy.  The MQM 
does not want to derail the government or be a destabilizing force, 
but there is a limit to their support.  Haider further elaborated by 
describing many of the government's statements as "weird," such as 
their repeated deadlines for the end of the power crisis.  They 
believe Nawaz Sharif is behind the NRO, and that the courts will make 
Zardari's life rough.  MQM leaders were particularly critical of Home 
Secretary and Zardari's pal, Zulfikar Mirza, whom they claimed is 
promoting gang warfare. 
 
¶8.  (C) The leaders noted that discussions between the MQM and 
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) were ongoing regarding the local 
government system.  The provincial government (mainly PPP) want 
 
KARACHI 00000015  002 OF 002 
 
 
administrators to be appointed for one year, and no elections held in 
the sort term.  The MQM will not accept unelected administrators. 
They believe the current conditions in Sindh will allow for elections 
to be held within three months.  Kamal pointed out that the 
provincial government can technically throw him out of the mayorship, 
but it cannot afford to have MQM on the other side.  However, he 
believes that if the government settles the NRO problems, MQM will be 
their next target. (COMMENT: In a January 16 press release, the 
Governor's House announced that senior leadership of MQM and PPP had 
reached a resolution on the local government electoral process 
essentially giving into MQM demands for appointment of Administrators 
for 90 days and a legal guarantee from PPP that if elections are not 
held within 90 days, control will revert back to 'Nazims.' Final 
approval is still pending.  END COMMENT) 
 
¶9.  (C)  The PPP is reluctant to maintain the current system, while 
the MQM wants the current system with modifications.  MQM says that 
this is about land.  The old system would give PPP more power, and 
confine MQM to 2-3 urban pockets, and the PPP is afraid of elections 
because there would be no Bhutto sympathies this time.  Also, the PPP 
will have trouble defending a record of bad governance and increased 
corruption over the past two years.  MQM believes the Sindhi 
nationalist parties are growing in strength and will challenge the 
PPP. 
 
----------------- 
Development Needs 
----------------- 
¶10.  (SBU)  Kamal said the main needs of Karachi include 
desalinization plants, mass transit, and a trauma center.  He also 
mentioned fire fighting equipment, saying the city is in need of 
dozens of ladder trucks for high rises and hundreds of other fire 
engines.  Karachi is the backbone of Pakistan's economy and it must 
be saved.  The biggest strengths and potential for Karachi are also 
its biggest threats. 
 
-------- 
Comment 
------- 
¶11.  (C) COMMENT:  MQM continues to cast blame for all of Karachi's 
problems on every other group.  The resolution or lack of it between 
PPP and MQM on the local government electoral process is troubling, 
and could be a harbinger for continued violence in Karachi.  For now, 
MQM plans to remain in the governing coalition, but they repeatedly 
stressed that they are suffering for being part of it, and that they 
do have their limits. END COMMENT 
 
FAKAN