Terrorism threat means Jersey politicians might skip conference

Thursday 26 February 2015

The threat of terrorism has left Jersey politicians waiting on advice from the Foreign Office before deciding whether to attend a major conference in Pakistan this autumn.

The 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference – a meeting of politicians from Commonwealth countries around the globe – is due to take place in Islamabad in Pakistan from 30 September to 8 October.

But the standing advice from the Foreign Office is that “there is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan”, although they note that 277,000 British nationals visit the country each year and that most visits are trouble-free.

Specific advice for Islamabad on the Foreign Office website states that British High Commission staff have been advised to avoid the area around the Lal-Masjid Mosque, and to stay away from western retail and fast-food outlets outside the Diplomatic Enclave, and not to stay in market areas for any longer than necessary.

St Clement Constable Len Norman – the Chairman of the local branch of the CPA – said that they were waiting on advice.

He said: “We have not had the invitation yet, but we will receive it in due course, and we are entitled to send three delegates.

“What happens is what happens every year – we will send out a letter to States Members inviting them to attend, so we will carry on as normal for the time being. We shall be keeping in close contact with the UK branch of the CPA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to decide what is appropriate.

“We need to be aware of what the UK branch is doing and what the advice is,

You do get a security briefing for these events, if you are going to places which might pose issues, you are given full information about them.

“I have been on one trip to Trinidad many years ago where we were advised not to leave the grounds of the hotel for our personal safety.”

The website offering advice to travellers says: “You should avoid key government installations and gatherings of uniformed personnel. Places of worship, including churches, religious sites, minority religious sects and shrines are often targeted.

“You should avoid religious events or gatherings and limit movements on Friday afternoons. You should also be vigilant in areas around diplomatic premises throughout Pakistan; in August 2013 the US closed its consulate in Lahore following a specific threat.”