Pakistan: Government employees to hold a sit-in protest outside Parliament House in Islamabad Oct. 13

Event

The All Government Employees Grand Alliance plans to protest outside the Parliament House in Islamabad Oct. 13. Organizers claim thousands of workers will participate in the demonstration to demand higher wages. Additional gatherings are possible at public squares and near provincial assembly buildings nationwide. While the Oct. 13 gathering will largely be in the form of a sit-in, previous actions related to the same issue have consisted of street marches and other forms of protest.

Authorities will almost certainly deploy an increased police presence to monitor the demonstration. While the gathering will likely remain largely peaceful, isolated skirmishes cannot be ruled out. Localized transport disruptions are possible, particularly if participants take to staging protest marches near Parliament House.

Advice

Avoid the demonstration as a precaution. Leave the area at the first sign of any security disturbance. Allow additional travel time near the protest venue. Heed all official security and traffic advisories.