PPP leaks ISI ‘dirty tricks’ file that Bhutto was set to reveal

“The objective is to cripple the opponent by slow and gradual measures, in a manner that is not connected plausibly with the subsequent elections”, the introduction continues. “Technically, this is the most precarious time for the opposition since they are at the complete mercy of the government and its tactics.”

Senior Benazir aide and former Pakistan High Commissioner to London Wajid Shamsul Hassan told The Indian Express, “This is a summary of what was to be given to American Congressmen on the 27th (the day Benazir was killed) over dinner.”

The purported dossier stops short of advocating assassinations, but its sub sections include details for wire tapping civil servants and the judiciary, abusing the law and manipulating lower courts, forcing bureaucrats to obey unlawful orders, systemic vilification, harassment, intimidation and character assassination of candidates, using violence to disrupt voting, as well as manipulating ballot boxes in polling stations.

“Violence may be perpetuated in the vicinity of polling stations to interrupt polling where candidates feel that voting may not be going in their favour, or where conspiracy already exists to create a situation for stuffing boxes with the connivance of the polling staff,” the alleged dossier says.

Guidance for stuffing ballot boxes explains, “Most of the stuffing incidents occur while the boxes are being shifted after the polling from respective stations to the central locations. By stopping en-route…the boxes are stuffed by abettors already in waiting…Since the ballot boxes are manufactured by local contractors, as such, they are quite easy to copy or get them manufactured through the same manufacturer. Once in custody of these boxes, all what is required is to stuff them and seal them..”

When it comes to the media, the reported dossier is quite specific: “The media is effectively used for vilification of the opponents. Selected columnists, news editors are hired clandestinely, to give a twist to each and every news. The wire services which have mushroomed also play their role..the wire services spin up stories with a political twist and float them in the media circles..paparazzi also carry out a well-orchestrated character assassination campaign against opposition political parties…low intensity propaganda assault against the opponents is quite effective particularly in the rural areas and among the less educated class.”

Asked when the dossier was drafted, Hassan claimed: “This plan was prepared more than a year ago. Rigging the elections has been an ongoing process. We talked about this document, I knew about it, we discussed it and she said let’s make it public at the proper time. She was very careful and she wanted to be sure it was authentic before she released it.”