MIDDLE EAST BRIEF xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FOR 18 AUGUST 1988 PAKISTAN: SITUATION REPORT CRASH KILLS PAKISTANI PRESIDENT, US AMBASSADOR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: PAKISTAN
• Keywords: EXPLOSION
• Keywords: PRESIDENT ZIA
• Keywords: DEATH
• Keywords: UL-HAQ MOHAMMED ZIA
• Keywords: AIRPLANE
• Keywords: RAPHEL ARNOLD L.
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000132144
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2009
• Case Number: F-2009-00883
• Publication Date: August 18, 1988

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PAGE:0080
APPROVED
FOR RELEASE^
DATE:
16-Sep-2009
 SUBJECT: MIDDLE EAST BRIEFI IFOR 18 AUGUST 1988.
FROM:
CONTENTS
1. PAKISTAN: SITUATION REPORT
CRASH KILLS PAKISTANI PRESIDENT, US AMBASSADOR
PRESIDENT ZIA-UL-HAQ AND US AMBASSADOR ARNOLD RAPHEL WERE
KILLED YESTERDAY WHEN THE PAKISTANI C-130 TRANSPORT THEY WERE ON
EXPLODED IN THE AIR SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM BAHAWALPUR, ABOUT 530
KILOMETERS (330 MILES) SOUTHWEST OF ISLAMABAD. A FOREIGN MINISTRY
SPOKESMAN SAID 30 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH, INCLUDING TWO OF
PAKISTAN'S TOP MILITARY LEADERS--AKHTAR ABDUL REHMAN KHAN, CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE, AND LT. GEN. MOHAMMAD
AFZAAL, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF. PRESIDENT ZIA WAS RETURNING FROM
OBSERVING A DEMONSTRATION OF US M1A1 TANKS. PRESS REPORTS ATTRIBUTE
THE CRASH TO SABOTAGE, AND THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT HAS LAUNCHED A
FORMAL INVESTIGATION
 THE PAKISTANIS PROBABLY HAVE A LIST OF SUSPECTS,
INCLUDING THE INDIANS, THE AFGHANS, AND DOMESTIC SHIA GROUPS.
GHULAM ISHAQ KHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE, HAS BEEN NAMED
ACTING PRESIDENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PAKISTAN'S CONSTITUTION. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND APPEALED FOR CALM.
THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT TO ELECT A
PRESIDENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS. ELECTIONS
HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 16 NOVEMBER, AND ISHAQ KHAN SAID IN A SPEECH
LAST NIGHT THAT THEY WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED.
ISHAQ KHAN HAS FORMED AN EMERGENCY
COUNCIL OF SENIOR MINISTERS AND GENERALS TO ADVISE HIM ON GOVERNING
THE COUNTRY. ISHAQ KHAN APPOINTED LT. GEN.
ASLAM BEG TO SUCCEED ZIA AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF.
COMMENT: NO TIME LIMIT HAS BEEN SET FOR THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.
DESPITE ISHAQ KHAN'S ASSURANCES, THE ELECTIONS MIGHT WELL BE
POSTPONED TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TIME TO REGROUP.
PRESS REPORTING INDICATES THAT PAKISTANIS ARE
STUNNED. MAJOR CITIES ARE QUIET, BUT PRESS REPORTS SAY ARMY TROOPS
ARE PATROLLING THE STREETS OF KARACHI, A PERENNIAL CENTER OF UNREST.
BENAZIR BHUTTO, THE OPPOSITION'S CHIEF LEADER, TOLD REPORTERS THAT
THE OPPOSITION WILL DO WHAT IT CAN TO MAINTAIN PAKISTAN'S STABILITY
AND UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.
BENAZIR AND OTHER POLITICIANS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
HAVE NO HOPE OF GAINING POWER IF ELECTIONS ARE PUT OFF INDEFINITELY.
PAGE 9I SECRET
THEY WILL NOT WANT TO GIVE THE MILITARY ANY PRETEXT FOR STEPPING IN.
IF STABILITY IS THREATENED, HOWEVER, THE MILITARY WILL CERTAINLY
DECLARE MARTIAL LAW.
 PAGE:0084
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ZIA'S POLICIES. HE ADDED THAT ALL TREATIES AND
THE LOSS OF ZIA AND JCS CHAIRMAN AKHTAR DEPRIVES THE
PTHE
AFGHAN RESISTANCE PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE COHESION, BUT ITS
MILITARY STRATEGY WILL PROBABLY NOT CHANGE.I
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