In order to prevent any potential disruptions in Ashura, the authorities have decided to suspend cellphone services in several places around the country.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been asked by the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad to stop mobile services not only on Muharram 9 and 10 but also on Muharram 11.
Specifically, on Muharram 9, mobile services will be suspended from 1 pm to 10 pm in sectors G6 and G7, and from 6 pm to 6 am the next day in Sector 10-I and surrounding areas.
On Muharram 11, mobile phone services will be inaccessible in Shah Allah Ditta from 2 am to 7 pm, while services will be unavailable in the areas surrounding Noorpur Shahan/Bari Imam from 12 pm to 7 pm.
Mobile services would be stopped in 14 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Sadar, Pishtakhara, Hassan Ghari, Peshawar’s inner city, Mardan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohat, Hangu, and Bannu. These limits will last until 10 p.m.
Similarly, to create a peaceful environment, Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, would suspend mobile services on Muharram 9 and 10. Pillion riding is already prohibited in the Quetta division from Muharram 1 to Muharram 12 (till July 31).
Furthermore, the PTA announced a partial suspension of mobile services in certain districts of Karachi till Muharram 10 (July 29), with suspensions beginning on Muharram 8.
Pillion riding is banned on Ashura in Lahore and Sindh. During this time, however, landline and cable internet services will be unaffected.
