Security threat: Australia cautions on Pakistan travel

Safety and security advisory says demonstrations and protests in Sindh likely following Altaf Hussain's arrest.

KARACHI: The Australian government has issued a travel advice asking its citizens to avoid travelling to Pakistan in view of threat of terrorism and volatile political situation. According to the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website, this advice was issued on Wednesday. The safety and security advisory says demonstrations and protests in Karachi and Sindh province are likely following the arrest of MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London. “We continue to strongly advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Pakistan overall due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, kidnapping, sectarian violence and the unpredictable security situation,” the DFAT website said. Moreover, it said that there has been an increase in terrorist activity in Pakistan in 2014, with a series of deadly bombings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2014.