Pakistan: One-month public gathering ban in South Waziristan

Event

On Saturday, June 9, a district magistrate declared a one-month ban on all public gathering and rallies in South Waziristan district not officially approved by the government. The order went into effect immediately. This ban comes amid growing discontentment of the local population vis-à-vis the local government.

Context

Tribesmen have held protests at an increasing rate in South Waziristan in recent months to denounce targeted killings and border crossing closures with Afghanistan.

Advice

Individuals are advised to keep abreast of the situation and avoid any protests that may take place despite the ban due to the risk of violence.

On a separate note, due to the high threat of terrorism and other forms of violent crime, individuals in Pakistan are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities (their diplomatic mission or security manager). As a reminder, all Western embassies in Pakistan advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country; travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.