United States has issued travel advisory for its citizens and asked them to defer all non-essential travel to South Asian country Pakistan.

Islamabad, Aug 9/Nationalturk – In view of looming political unrest in Pakistan, United States has issued travel advisory for its citizens and asked them to defer all non-essential travel to South Asian country Pakistan.

Pakistan’s two major political parties – Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of cleric and politician Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri are spearheading agitations and both have called for long marches to bring revolution and “overthrow” the elected government

Qadri has given call for observance of “Martyrs Day” on August 10 to remember the party workers killed in police action in country’s Punjab province early this year and pay homage to Pakistani soldiers killed during military operation in country’s North Waziristan Tribal Agency.

A worker of Qadri’s PAT was killed and many others injured in clashes with police in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Saturday, a day before observance of “Martyrs Day”.

Imran has called for long march named “Azadi (freedom) March” on August 14 to dislodge the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He has alleged that Sharif’s government came to power through massive poll rigging.

‘Terrorist groups pose danger to US citizens’

Without mentioning anything about the political unrest, the travel advisory issued by US State department states that presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan. “Across the country, terrorist attacks frequently occur against civilian, government and foreign targets”.

Admitting that Pakistan government maintained heightened security measures, particularly in the major cities, it said threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where US citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit.

“Terrorists and criminal groups regularly resort to kidnapping for ransom,” it said  and advised US citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Pakistan.

It also advised US citizens in Pakistan to avoid all protests and large gatherings as protests against the United States are not uncommon and have the potential to turn violent.

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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News