Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami party to expand sit-in protest at Rawalpindi to major cities nationwide from July 31 /update 1

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party has announced further protests near governor houses across Pakistan from July 31 to denounce the effects of alleged misgovernance, including inflation and supply shortages affecting essential commodities like electricity. A march will occur in Karachi at 17:00 July 31 from the Masjid-e-Khizra mosque to the Governor's House for an indefinite sit-in protest. Organizers are already holding an indefinite protest involving a few thousand supporters at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh Park from July 26, defying ongoing Section 144 orders that prohibit unauthorized public gatherings; the rally is prompting significant traffic and localized business disruptions in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

JI leaders have announced they will hold similar events near governor houses in other major cities like Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta in the coming days, with gatherings likely to start on or continue until at least Aug. 3 to mark the International Day of Action for Gaza, and Aug. 5 for Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir/Day of Exploitation observances. Protests may occur at alternative or additional venues. Popular gathering sites include major intersections along interprovincial or intercity highways, monuments, sports grounds, public squares, and government buildings. Thousands of attendees are likely at rallies. Protest plans may change at short notice due to official bans and/or security curbs preventing participants from reaching rally venues.

Authorities will almost certainly monitor protests and move to disperse overly disruptive crowds. Security checks and cordons are likely near key buildings such as diplomatic enclaves, legislative assembly buildings, and offices of governors and chief ministers. Clashes between police and activists are possible, mainly if demonstrators attempt to breach security cordons. The use of force, such as batons, tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, cannot be ruled out. Officials usually impose roadblocks and gathering bans to prevent planned rallies and may enforce localized movement and mobile internet curbs in case of significant violence.

Congestion due to protester caravans, roadblocks, and traffic restrictions are affecting several access roads to the Islamabad Capital Territory, such as the Islamabad Toll Plaza along the M-2 motorway and Zero Point Interchange along the Srinagar Highway. Authorities in Karachi have closed the Aiwan-e-Sadar road as a precaution; similar transport disruptions and associated local business disruptions are likely in other cities during future protests. Ground shipping delays cannot be ruled out.