The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have issued travel advisories for their citizens in Pakistan in light of the political unrest that has occurred since the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.
Khan's arrest by the National Accountability Bureau follows months of political crisis and came hours after the powerful military rebuked the former international cricketer for alleging that a senior officer had been involved in a plot to kill him.
Some protesters took out their wrath on the military, torching the residence of the corps commander in Lahore and laying siege to the army's general headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Taking the uproar into account, the three aforementioned countries issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff, according to local media.
The US embassy announced a travel alert for its citizens, saying: “The US embassy is monitoring earlier reports of clashes between demonstrators and police in Islamabad and also sporadic demonstrations underway or being planned elsewhere throughout Pakistan.”
It also advised its citizens to exercise heightened vigilance and avoid locations with large crowds.
The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advised citizens to avoid all political demonstrations, large crowds of people and public events, and be prepared to change plans as necessary.
“Public demonstrations are common in Pakistan. You should keep track of the local news. Protests can occur with little warning and while most remain peaceful, they can turn violent and escalate quickly.”
Meanwhile, the Canadian government asked its citizens and diplomatic staff to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the “unpredictable security situation.”
“There is a threat of terrorism, civil unrest, sectarian violence and kidnapping.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, reacting to Khan's arrest, said the United States did not have a stance on one political candidate or party and called for respect for democratic principles.
“We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a joint news conference.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, meanwhile, said: “We want to see peaceful democracy in that country. We want to see the rule of law adhered to.”
