Mobile phone services suspended in more than 80 cities

ISLAMABAD: The cellular networks have blocked in the vulnerable cities of Pakistan as a security measure during Ashura. 

The services would remain suspended in more than 80 cities from 06:00 AM till 10:00 PM.

According to intelligence reports, the districts of Chakwal, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Jhang, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Layyah, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Multan were deemed sensitive in this regard.

Other districts where the services would remain suspended include Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Pakpattan. The sources disclosed that the security agencies informed the federal interior ministry that there was a potential threat that terrorists could target processions on Ashura processions.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had sent the list of cities to mobile phone companies.

According to sources, mobile phone service would also remain shut in Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sehwan, Nawabshah and Larkana for two days.

In restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, there will be no mobile phone service in Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and parts of Peshawar. In addition, mobile phone firms have been asked to block services in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Rahimyar Khan, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Pakpattan, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Jhang and Attock.

Sources say the mobile phone service would also be blocked on routes of Muharram processions in specific cities.

Sindh and Balochistan had written letters to the federal government, requesting to close mobile phone services in Quetta and five cities of Sindh on Yaum-e-Ashur.

The Sindh regime had mailed requests for closure of mobile phone service on 9th and 10th days of Muharram in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Khairpur, and Sukkur.

The Balochistan government requested the federal regime, via mail Friday, to close the mobile phone service in Quetta.