Cablegate: Amcits Should Avoid Karachi October 18

VZCZCXRO1693
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #4439 2901107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171107Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2508
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7633
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6494
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1981
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7682
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3725
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 2215
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 004439

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: AMCITS SHOULD AVOID KARACHI OCTOBER 18

1. (SBU) Expecting up to a half million people to turn out
for the October 18 arrival in Karachi of Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto, the U.S. Consulate in
Karachi has issued the below Demonstration Notice (para 2).
Bhutto's arrival party alone will be in the hundreds,
including an estimated 150 international and local
journalists/reporters. About 3,500 police and troops are
being called out to control the crowd and provide security
for Bhutto, who has received death threats from radical
Islamists. For security reasons, the government plans to jam
cellphones, at least along the route. The U.S. Consulate in
Karachi will be on minimal staffing for the day. We are
concerned about the large numbers of American citizens who
may be traveling with her and could well get caught up in
demonstrations. These include both press and some private
citizens.

2. (U) Quote: Demonstration Notice. The media reports that
Ms. Benazir Bhutto is scheduled to arrive at the Karachi
airport on Thursday, October 18, 2007. To receive Ms.
Bhutto, large crowds are expected to gather at the airport,
surrounding routes, the areas around Mazar-e-Quaid (Jinnah's
tomb) and all major roads leading to Clifton. American
citizens may wish to avoid the airport area, Shahra-e-Faisal
and major roads leading to the airport as well as roads in
and around her party headquarters, as road closures and
severe traffic congestion are expected. End quote.

PATTERSON

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