• The Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) are slated to observe a countrywide strike on May 9.
• The strike and protests will be held to condemn alleged Indian aggression amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as to show solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces and the families of those injured.

1. The strikes are expected to be widely observed throughout the country, given the resonance of the issue, coupled with support and calls for adherence from the lawyers’ community by the SCBAP. The authorities are liable to bolster security measures in the vicinity of potential hotspots for ad-hoc protests and sit-ins, particularly in major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi. This will likely manifest in the deployment of additional police personnel and the setting up of barricades, given the sensitivity of potential protest hot spot locations. Heightened security measures are also likely outside the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad.
2. While no clashes were reported in similar protests held on May 8, and given calls for the strike and protests have urged peaceful demonstrations, there remains a low risk of clashes between protesters and the police. However, should the latter be perceived as engaging in unruly behavior, such as attempting to breach security measures, burning flags, or blocking roads, police are liable to utilize dispersal measures, including temporary detentions and baton charges. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are expected in the vicinity of the aforementioned locations due to the strikes and potential protests on May 9.

Those operating or residing in Pakistan on May 9 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of potential protest locations due to the slated strike and associated security measures, while alloting for travel disruptions.