Nawaz agreed to support Musharraf: WikiLeaks
May 24, 2011

WikiLeaks claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari told former US ambassador Anne Patterson that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was willing to support Pervez Musharraf. In another cable, it was revealed that the United States stopped Zardari from buying cheap oil from Iran. Former US ambassador Anne Patterson wrote on March 10, 2008 that Zardari told her that Nawaz Sharif was ready to support Musharraf and accommodate Justice Dogar as the chief justice. According to another cable, Zardari told former ISI chief Nadeem Taj that Justice Iftikhar should be shifted to his ancestral house in Quetta. Nadeem Taj said that people’s sympathies were with Justice Iftikhar and the move could backfire.

Nawaz agreed to support Musharraf: WikiLeaks | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

WikiLeaks: Sharif asked US to provide him security
Published: June 11, 2011

The Resident Security Officer (RSO) of the US Embassy in Islamabad met three representatives of Nawaz Sharif to discuss his security. PHOTO: FILE
New WikiLeaks cable revealed that the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif wanted the US government to provide him personal security. However he was advised by the US embassy that besides being illegal it would be politically incorrect to do such a thing.
The WikiLeaks cable (reference no. 136305), which was released on 4 January 2008, revealed that the Resident Security Officer (RSO) of the US Embassy in Islamabad met three representatives of Nawaz Sharif to discuss his security.
According to the cable, Sharif’s representatives were told that US government security would violate several considerations.
They were advised that an indigenous security operation would be preferable for cultural understanding, political awareness, and even geographical familiarity reasons.
The RSO began by explaining the various reasons why American (or other foreign) securitywould be the wrong choice to make. First, legally and without appropriate guidelines, officialUSG security would violate several considerations. Second, hired professional commercial American security would not only complicate the anti-American politics already in play, but would create a higher target profile for the Protectee, rather than reducing it. And third, that in a foreign country, an indigenous security operation would be preferable for cultural understanding, political awareness, and even geographical familiarity reasons, providing the indigenous company is competent.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 136305 

WikiLeaks: Nawaz Sharif’s broken promise
Published: December 1, 2010

According to the cable, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States (US), Adel al-Jubeir, said that Sharif had ‘tested the limits of this promise five or six years in his exile’. PHOTO:FILE/AFP
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif broke a promise he had made with Saudi Arabia, when he returned to Pakistan in 2007.
According to a WikiLeaks cable release, the Saudi government had offered asylum and protection to Nawaz Sharif on the condition that he would not take part in political activity for ten years.
According to the cable, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States (US), Adel al-Jubeir, Sharif had ‘tested the limits of this promise five or six years in his exile’.
Jubeir goes on to say that the Saudis had allowed Sharif to travel to London and despite promising not to take part in political activities, he had flow from London to Pakistan. He says that the Saudi government had worked with Musharraf for the arrest and immediate deportation of Sharif when he returned.
In another cable, US Charge d’Affaires Michael Gfoeller noted that Nawaz Sharif was under the economic hold of the Saudis, as he had received a special economic development loan from the country.
Helping the Lashkars
A cable release alleges that the PML-N government in Punjab helped Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ‘evade’ United Nations (UN) Sanctions right after the Mumbai 26/11 attacks.
President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking to former US Ambassador Anne Patterson, had alleged that Shahbaz Sharif had tipped off the LeT about UN sanctions, which gave the banned outfit a chance to empty its bank account before a raid or freeze. The cable goes on to say that President Zardari expressed his ‘frustration’ with the move.
The US diplomats were unable to confirm the allegation, but noted that they came at a time when
US diplomats were unable to confirm the allegation, but accepted the fact that information had been passed on, which was an indication of a surprisingly small amount of money in the bank accounts.

WikiLeaks: Nawaz Sharif’s broken promise – The Express Tribune

WikiLeaks: ISI asked Saudis to stop funding Nawaz’s campaign
Published: May 31, 2011

Former ISI chief told Saudi Ambassador that the aid violated Pakistan’s agreement on Nawaz’s return from exile. PHOTO: FILE
New WikiLeaks cables have revealed that the ISI had asked Saudi Arabia to stop funding Nawaz Sharif’s campaign in the last elections.
Former ISI chief Nadeem Taj told the Saudi Ambassador in a meeting that the aid violatedPakistan’s agreement with the Saudis on Nawaz’s return from exile.
The cable, which was filed by former ambassador Anne Patterson, reads:
Aziz expressed great concern to Ambassador about a possible PPP-Nawaz alliance. Aziz claimed the Saudis were heavily funding Sharif’s campaign to ensure a PPP defeat and hedge their betsagainst Musharraf. Taj called the Saudi Ambassador and requested this stop, saying it violated the GOP’s agreement with the Saudis on Nawaz’s return from exile. Aziz observed that if the PML-N and the PPP formed a government, “What options would Musharraf have?”
Former National Security Advisor and Musharraf’s trusted aide Tariq Aziz also expressed great concern to the American Ambassador in this regard.
He told the American envoy that the Saudis were heavily funding Sharif’s campaign to ensure PPP’s defeat and hedge their bets against Musharraf.
The cable has also revealed that President Zardari had raised the idea of becoming Prime Minister with Tariq Aziz after the 2008 polls. But Aziz supported Amin Faheem.
Zardari complained that Faheem was a poor administrator who lacked the skills needed to run the government.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 141804
WikiLeaks: ISI asked Saudis to stop funding Nawaz’s campaign – The Express Tribune

Chaudhry Nisar admits his wife, children are US citizensFrom the Newspaper | Front Page | By Amir Wasim September 14, 2011

ISLAMABAD: A PML-N firebrand and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on Tuesday admitted for the first time that his wife and children were US citizens, but criticised the Pakistani media for “unnecessarily playing it up” when in fact it was his personal matter.

The revelation about the family of the PML-N leader, who otherwise is perceived in political circles as one who is opposed to the American policies in the region, were part of a confidential US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.

Visibly disturbed by media coverage of the issue, Chaudhry Nisar made serious attempts at a news conference to defend his family by stating that his wife was already holding dual nationality when he married her in late 1980s as his in-laws were settled in the US since 1970s.

The citizenship issue was disclosed in a secret cable sent by the then US Ambassador in Islamabad, Anne W. Patterson, to Washington after her meeting with him soon after becoming opposition leader three years ago. The US ambassador had stated that the PML-N leader had assured her that he and his party were “pro-American”.

“As always, Nisar insisted that he and the PML-N were pro-American (saying that his wife and children in fact are Americans),” said the cable sent to Washington on Sept 19, 2008.

According to the cable, “(Ch) Nisar did admit that he went to the US Embassy in London to renew his daughter’s passport because he wanted to avoid being seen at the US Embassy in Islamabad.”

It further stated: “Ch Nisar was cagier, noting that US attacks over the past few weeks hurt the hearts and minds campaign. He called for more transparency in the bilateral relationship and reserved the right to criticise US actions to remain politically credible.”

In her comments at the end of the cable, the ambassador wrote: “Nisar appears to be positioning himself to be a candidate for prime minister, if the Sharifs are disqualified in the upcoming battle with the PPP over control of the Punjab. Nisar is at heart a nationalist, and he will be an eloquent and formidable opposition leader. But he does recognise the need to stay in the good graces of the US, and we should invite him to Washington when an opportunity arises.”

Interestingly at the news conference, the PML-N leader said the contents of most of the WikiLeaks cables seemed to be true.

However, he said, these cables were based on the assessment and understanding of the diplomats which could be wrong.

Ch Nisar denied that he had ever visited the US Embassy in London in connection with the renewal of his daughter’s passport.

He said perhaps the ambassador had misunderstood what he had stated at that time. In fact, he said, there was no need for him to visit the US Embassy for renewal of his children’s passports as, according to him, this job was performed by his wife.

The PML-N leader said that he was feeling pain while discussing his family matters before the media as he always kept his family away from politics and official work. “I am a person who wants to live a private life,” he said, adding that he had been forced to come out with this explanation despite opposition by some of his party colleagues and friends because his “honesty and patriotism” were being questioned by some people through a malicious propaganda campaign using WikiLeaks cables.

“For me it is necessary that no one can raise finger at my self-respect and patriotism,” he said, adding that four generations of his family had worked for the country’s defence and gave blood to the motherland. “Therefore, it had become difficult for me to remain silent,” Ch Nisar told journalists.

Turning to more serious issues, perhaps to deflect the focus from his family’s American citizenship issue, Chaudhry Nisar claimed before the journalists that a high-level American delegation stated in talks with his party that Pakistan Army was involved in terrorism.

“They said not Gen Musharraf, your army is involved in terrorism,” the PML-N leader quoted US Senator John Kerry and now US vice-president Joe Biden as saying while speaking at a news conference he had called to respond to a WikiLeaks cable that disclosed the American citizenship of his wife and children.

Chaudhry Nisar said the offensive remark was made when he, at a meeting the US delegation had with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif immediately after the 2008 general election, protested the US support to a military dictator instead for the people of Pakistan. At this the Americans “flared up and hit the roof”. The then US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson had to intervene to prevent the situation from worsening.

Ch Nisar recalled a number of his meetings with visiting US officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asserting that in each meeting he opposed the post-9/11 US policy towards Muslims and suggested that US withdraw from the region.

The PML-N leader clarified that he was not against the American nation, but was opposed to the US policy towards Muslims after the 9/11 attack.

Summary. During a one and a half hour meeting December 3 with Pakistan Muslim League-N party leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, Ambassador outlined USG support for free and fair elections with the participation of all parties. Nawaz indicated that he would boycott the elections but reserved a final decision until after consultations later that day with Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto. He wanted to convince Bhutto to boycott and then form a national unity government where they would alternatively share power. He maintained his public line about restoring the judiciary as the key to Pakistan’s future. Nawaz had been “disappointed” and “hurt” that President Bush did not know him, according to advisors who went to great pains to defend Nawaz’s pro-U.S., “anti-mullah” history. PML-N wants good relations with the U.S., but believes America should support a more balanced policy towards the political parties. End Summary. 2. (C) Ambassador and Poloff met for an hour and a half December 3 with former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in his newly refurbished Lahore estate. Also in the meeting were Nawaz’s brother Shahbaz Sharif, former Petroleum Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and former Finance Minister Muhammed Ishaq Dar. Nawaz spent a good deal of the meeting reliving past history, beginning with how Musharraf had not allowed him to return from exile to attend his father’s funeral. The meeting was more cordial that we expected, given PML-N’s public posturing about being independent from the U.S. Overall, Nawaz was calm, even placid, especially in comparison with his more agitated and eloquent brother, Shahbaz. Nawaz allowed Shahbaz and the former ministers to take the harder line and provide much of the detailed arguments in favor of his positions. After the meeting, Nawaz went out of his way to avoid discussing with the press any differences with the USG position on the proposed boycott. 3. (C) As the Election Commission had just rejected his nomination papers, Shahbaz launched into a detailed defense of the charges (absconding, loan default and murder) against him. The charges were either baseless or resolved, he insisted, and he would not appeal the decision because it meant recognizing illegal courts. 4. (C) Ambassador asked if Nawaz was determined to boycott the elections. Nawaz responded that Musharraf’s voter strength rested on former Nawaz supporters and today Musharraf would be lucky to win one-fifth of the National Assembly if elections were free and fair. But, he asked, how can we participate if our papers are rejected and Musharraf has hand-picked the courts and the Election Commission? There was no consultation with other parties on naming the now biased caretaker government, lawyers like Aitzaz Ahsan were still in detention, and the press was being restricted. We don’t see a level playing field anywhere, he insisted. Pervaiz Elahi (former Chief Minister of Punjab) is calling he shots behind the scene. The Election Commission transferred judges just before the deadline and controls the vote counting. 5. (C) Ambassador detailed USG plans to support election observer missions staffed by the International Republican Institute, The Asia Foundation and the Mission and said we were encouraging the European Union to go forward with its observer mission as well. We were not naive about the history of electoral manipulation in Pakistan, but we hoped that the presence of observers would help discourage fraud. Nawaz responded that the (intelligence) agencies controlled everything; Musharraf needed a two-thirds majority in the next Assembly to avoid treason charges, and the agencies would get it for him. 6. (C) Nawaz said he would sit down with Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto later in the day and hoped to convince her to join the boycott. He would suggest that he and Bhutto agree to a national unity government under which they would trade off being prime minister. Asked how he arrived at a national unity government without participating in elections, Nawaz said his party would go to the streets with the support of the lawyers and civil society. ISLAMABAD 00005138 002 OF 003 7. (C) Nawaz appealed to the U.S., UK, and European Union to press Musharraf to reinstate the judiciary. Asked to clarify what that meant, Nawaz said everything should be rolled back to November 2 (i.e., before the state of emergency and the Provisional Constitutional Order). Ambassador said this was just too difficult, given Musharraf’s position on the former Chief Justice. The USG had called for all detainees, including the judges to be released, and we wanted to see the judiciary begin functioning normally again. Was there a way to restore some of the judges? Nawaz asked if President Bush or the leader of any civilized country could simply fire the Supreme Court and get away with it. 8. (C) Nawaz continued on this theme, saying that a corrupt judiciary has been a problem in Pakistan for the last 60 years; Justice Chaudhry for the first time reversed the “doctrine of necessity.” If the people abandoned the judges who stood up for an independent judiciary, where was Pakistan’s future? Musharraf, he said, should have waited for the ruling on his case and simply accepted his fate, one way or another. If he had lost, there would have been free and fair elections and the country would have been able to move on. General Kayani (the new Chief of Army Staff) was a good man (formerly Nawaz’s deputy military secretary) and would have ensured an orderly transition. 9. (C) Ambassador stressed again that the USG believed the way forward was through the electoral process. The USG had an enormous counter-terrorism stake in Pakistan. Our goal was political stability and democratization. We know that elections will not take place under ideal conditions, but we need to move ahead. Nawaz asked “our papers have been rejected, so how do we participate?” Pro-U.S./Anti-Mullah ——————– 10. (C) Nawaz allowed his former ministers to make a long and detailed case defending Nawaz’s pro-American and anti-militant stance. Ali Khan and Dar both said that they had been “disappointed” and “hurt” to read that President Bush did not know Nawaz and felt the U.S. was unfairly supporting Bhutto and Musharraf. They recounted Nawaz’s meetings with former President Clinton, who had praised Nawaz for pulling back from the nuclear brink after the Kargil debacle. They said the religious parties had never won more than 11% of the vote in Pakistan, and that was only when Musharraf was in power. Nawaz put forces in the street to oppose the mullahs supporting Saddam at a time when Bhutto ignored them. Nawaz was the first to privatize the national bank, the first to lay the groundwork for reconciliation with India, the first to fight the Taliban. 11. (C) Musharraf, they claimed, only supported the U.S. after 9/11 out of necessity, and he always asks for something in return. Musharraf has wrecked Pakistan’s institutions, and the U.S. should carefully re-think its policies. To win the fight against extremists, you must win hearts and minds and Musharraf is too unpopular for that. PML-N wants good relations with the U.S. and considers America a good ally, but its policy needs to be better balanced. 12. (C) Ambassador replied that the USG recognizes that the PML-N is a secular party, and when President Bush said he didn’t know Nawaz, that was the truth as they have no history together. She promised to convey Nawaz’s messages to Washington. The U.S. is neutral on the elections and we will work with whomever the Pakistani people elect. Our primary focus was the deteriorating security situation in the tribal areas and now in the settled areas. We were concerned that we were not winning this war, and we needed to work together with Pakistan to defeat militant extremism. The best way to do that was with a government chosen through free and fair elections. 13. (C) Selective history and idealism aside, our sources continue to believe that Nawaz will not boycott the election because most of his party wants a chance to return to power. The government’s decision to reject the nomination papers of Shahbaz (and subsequently Nawaz) will not help convince PML-N ISLAMABAD 00005138 003 OF 003 to participate. Nawaz does not appear to have thought through the option of taking a boycott to the streets. His party was not able to deliver mass demonstrations when he was deported September 10, and his party structure after eight years in exile is weak. His subtle message was that he was counting on the Army to step and remove Musharraf after street demonstrations. We are concerned that this option would introduce violence and uncertainty that, again, would distract from our primary mission of fighting extremism. But we have little leverage over Nawaz and should concentrate our efforts in reinforcing what appears to be Bhutto’s decision to participate in elections. If she goes forward, we still believe that Nawaz will–however reluctantly–follow suit. PATTERSON<ANN W.>