CITY MAN IN PAKISTAN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30100, 6 April 1963, Page 13

CITY MAN IN PAKISTAN

Armed Guards Supplied Because of a general wave of unrest and hostile feelings towards all Europeans in Pakistan at present, armed guards were supplied to a Christchurch lecturer during his period of field study in West Pakistan. Mr W. B. Johnston, senior lecturer in geography at the University of Canterbury, who returned to Christchurch yesterday from a refresher leave, during which he studied land use in South-east Asia, said that he was usually supplied with an armed guard during his field work. It was considered unsafe for a European not to be escorted in the marginal area near the hills of West Pakistan because of the hill tribes and the possibility of i political issue arising from any Incident which might occur. Mr Johnston arrived in Peshawar at the same time as the Chinese invasion of India began. However, although Europeans were viewed with suspicion and aq armed guard was required, Mr Johnston said his field work was not hindered.

At night during the hostilities, armed guards were stationed at the universities, the streets were patrolled and Europeans were not allowed out because of demonstrations and occasional riots.