U.S. advises citizens in Pakistan to stay away from long-march
Friday, January 11th, 2013 4:25:52 by Tahir Khan
The American embassy in Islamabad on Friday issued security alert message to its citizens in Pakistan in view of the coming long-march on the Pakistani capital by a religious leader.
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, leader of Minhaj-ul-Quran, has planned the long-march and a sit-in outside the parliament building on January 14 to press for electoral reforms.
“This security message alerts U.S. citizens about the possibility of upcoming demonstrations January 13-14 between Lahore and Islamabad and in the Islamabad area,” the U.S. embassy said.
In the message posted on the embassy’s website said that the march participants are expected to gather in the Model Town area of Lahore near the Minhaj-ul-Qijran at 9:00 am on Sunday, January 13, and proceed towards Islamabad along the Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road).
“We urge U.S. citizens to avoid the Lahore and Islamabad demonstration sites during this period. If travel is unavoidable, U.S. citizens should expect significant delays when traveling through these areas and along the G.T. Road and the Islamabad-Lahore motorway”.
The alert advised all U.S. citizens to stay clear of all published procession routes, keep a low profile, and avoid large gatherings.
“The resulting traffic might cause significant travel delays along other major thoroughfares throughout Lahore as marchers join the procession and regular traffic is rerouted,” it said.
Public Services at U.S. Embassy Suspended: Public services at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad will be temporarily suspended on Monday, January 14, due to these demonstrations.
The Embassy will continue to make every effort to provide only emergency services to U.S. citizens.
The embassy said that during this event, there will be a large number of gatherings, processions, and demonstrations between Islamabad and Lahore along the G.T. Road and in the city of Islamabad.
“The U.S. Embassy expects a heightened police and security force presence in and around the city of Islamabad, especially in the downtown area and the area adjacent to the Diplomatic Enclave. The Embassy expects travel in and out of the downtown area to be restricted or prohibited, and for traffic to be blocked, restricted, or rerouted in other portions of the city”.
Tags: Islamabad's security, Minhaj-ul-Quran, Tahir-ul-Qadri, US embassy Islamabad, US threatsShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=37191
Posted by Tahir Khan
on Jan 11 2013. Filed under Latest News, USA.
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I am a U.S citizen living in Pakistan for last few years my passport is going to expire in june where should I contact to get it renewed.
The failure of Interior Ministry under Rehman Malik had miserably failed to ensure on time issuance of passports. Hundreds of thousands of passports are pending and the people are facing a lot of problems but no one take care of the sufferings of the people. Many people have lost jobs and could not go for studies as they do not have passports. You are also the victim of the policies of the former gov’t. You have no other option but to wait.