• The Sindhu Indus Lawyers’ Forum is scheduled to hold a protest in front of the New Bar Association, Sindh High Court, in Karachi at 12:00 (local time) on February 18.
• The gathering will be held to oppose the alleged diversion of Indus River water by building new canals and the allotment of Sindh’s land to corporate entities, citing concerns over potential threats to the province’s rights and resources.

1. The turnout at the slated protest is anticipated to range between the low-to-mid hundreds based on the wider resonance of the issue among the locals and considering the participation recorded at a similar protest in December 2024 in the city. The attendance will increase if other likeminded groups such as Sindh United Lawyers’ Forum and women’s activist group, Sindhyani Tahreek (ST) join the protest. The authorities are liable to bolster security in the vicinity of the Sindh High Court with additional police deployment and the setting up of barricades to monitor the crowds. This is especially considering the sensitive nature of the location due to its proximity to the Governor’s Residence.
2. There exists a latent risk of localized clashes between the protesters and the authorities, considering the anti-government nature of the protest. Should the protesters be deemed as engaging in unruly behaviors, such as breaching security protocols or blocking major thoroughfares, the police are anticipated to undertake forcible dispersal measures, including temporary detentions and baton charges. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are expected in the vicinity of the aforementioned location due to the slated protest on February 18.

Those operating or residing in Karachi on February 18 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of the Sindh High Court due to the slated protest and associated security measures while allotting for travel disruptions.