Mobile phone services will undergo selective suspension on the 9th and 10th of Muharram in Pakistan for security purposes.
The Punjab Home Department announced it would limit cellular services to areas surrounding processions and Majalis. Specific cities affected include Gujranwala, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Bhakkar, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Rajanpur, Faisalabad, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Gujrat, DG Khan, and Jhang. However, cellular services will remain open in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, and Chiniot.
As part of these security measures, the partial suspension in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jhang, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar commenced on the 7th of Muharram.
The department confirmed that there will be no complete suspension in any city within the province. Authorities will enforce these restrictions from 8 AM to 10 PM on the specified dates.
Furthermore, in Rawalpindi, authorities will suspend mobile services at 28 locations. Rahim Yar Khan will see suspensions at 15 locations, while Mianwali and Bahawalpur will each have 11 locations affected. Layyah will experience suspensions at 10 locations, Muzaffargarh at seven, and Nankana Sahib at six.
The provincial governments will determine the suspension of cellular services in their respective provinces based on specific local requirements.
The partial suspension aims to ensure the public’s safety during the significant observances of Muharram, which began on July 8 following the sighting of the lunar month’s crescent. Massive security deployments accompany these observances, where religious scholars address large gatherings.
