Bhutto death leaves bind for members

Democrats face a test over how to deal with Pakistan, an already thorny foreign policy issue further complicated by the controversy surrounding former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

While some Democrats want to impose tougher restrictions on aid to President Pervez Musharraf’s regime, Democrats also want to avoid tying the hands of a potential future Democratic administration by micromanaging foreign policy.

{mosads}This debate is expected to play out as Congress makes its decisions on the fiscal 2009 appropriations process.

When they return from recess, lawmakers are expected to file resolutions condemning Bhutto’s assassination, continue calls for an independent investigation and consider placing stronger restrictions on aid to Pakistan, according to several insiders.

Already, in a searing Dec. 31 letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, more than a dozen House members have criticized the White House for its response to Bhutto’s assassination and issued a warning that Congress would seek new restrictions to Pakistani aid.

“It troubles us that the White House today said that the assassination of Ms. Bhutto is an internal matter for Pakistan,” wrote the lawmakers, including Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).   

Questions over how Bhutto died and contradictions in the Pakistan government’s explanation “demonstrate the need for a vigorous and independent international investigation into her cause of death,” the lawmakers said.

Democratic leaders, however, need to determine how quickly they want to move forward with altering U.S. policy and how to find a balanced legislative approach towards Pakistan emphasizing all areas, and not just military aid, one Democratic congressional aide said.

As part of the 2008 appropriations process, Congress allocated $300 million in military assistance to Pakistan, but withheld another $50 million on the condition that the U.S. Secretary of State certify to Congress that the government of Pakistan makes progress on restoring constitutional government, including freedom of assembly, restoring an independent judiciary and ending the harassment and detention of journalists. The remaining $250 million is available for efforts to counter al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated groups from operating in Pakistan or from using Pakistan as a sanctuary.  

The 2008 omnibus spending bill also no longer allows cash transfers to Pakistan’s treasury. The $350 million in so-called economic support funds now must follow programming channels of established U.S. programs with specific purposes. In previous years, cash transfers totaled about $200 million, according to congressional sources.

In the Dec. 31 letter, the lawmakers said they “would focus intently on the status” of the already withheld funds and “may seek additional restrictions in future appropriations bills” if Congress is not satisfied with a “truly impartial and independent” investigation, or if they realize that elections scheduled for January were postponed “in order to further setback the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people.”

Pakistan’s government is prepared to protect itself with the help of K Street, and last month signed a $45,000 per month contract with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide to polish Pakistan’s image in Washington. Islamabad’s move is likely to draw criticism from Congress by perpetuating the perception that Musharraf’s government thinks it solely has a public relations problem in Washington, some observers said.

“Pakistan has more than a public relations problem,” said the congressional source.

Ogilvy, which has been preparing an agreement with Pakistan’s Washington embassy since November 2007, signed the contract a little more than a week before Bhutto’s assassination on Dec. 27.

Meanwhile, lobbyists for Bhutto’s political party — the Pakistan People’s Party — also have been pressing Congress to call for an independent investigation into her death.

In an e-mail to The Hill, Burson-Marsteller and BKSH & Associates  said they would continue to work with the PPP.

“The focus will be on helping to ensure that the Party’s important messages, regarding the need to have a fair and level playing field in place for the upcoming elections and the need for a U.N. investigation into the death of Madam Bhutto, are heard,” the two firms said in the e-mail.

Bhutto’s widower, Asif Ali Zardari, signed the $28,500 per month contract in January 2007. Zardari and Bilawel Bhutto Zardari, the couple’s 19-year-old son, now co-chair Bhutto’s party.

Burson has earned more than $340,000 on the contract since January 2007, according to the most recent records filed with the Justice Department. BKSH has taken in more than $80,000 so far from Burson on its work for the party.

Pakistan’s government also renewed its $55,000 per month contract last summer with Van Scoyoc Associates, upping it from $40,000. The firm has already received $240,000 for the first half of 2007, according to Justice Department records.

“Benazir Bhutto’s death is a tragedy for Pakistan. She was an inspiration to millions in her country and around the world. Every step must be taken to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice,” said Mark Tavlarides, a vice president at Van Scoyoc Associates. “We continue to work with the government of Pakistan to address U.S. and congressional concerns, particularly as they relate to the Bhutto investigation, democratic reforms and counterterrorism.”