Cellular services partially suspended for Muharram 9 processions

Security on high alert across Pakistan; sensitive areas cordoned off; aerial surveillance, CCTV monitoring ongoing

ISLAMABAD: As part of security measures enforced for Muharram 9 processions, mobile phone services were partially suspended in various parts of the country on Monday afternoon.

Heavy contingents of police, Rangers and Pakistan Army soldiers have been deployed in close proximity of mosques, imambargahs and procession routes in all cities.

Areas declared sensitive have been cordoned off with barricades and aerial surveillance is also being carried along with monitoring through security cameras.

As per reports, partial suspension of mobile phone services will be enforced in the capital, Islamabad, and 36 districts of Punjab including Lahore, Sialkot, Multan, Okara, Jhelum and Gujranwala.

Eight districts of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin and Larkana, will also see a suspension of cellular services.



In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cellular services will be partially suspended in 12 districts including Peshawar, Bannu, Nowshera and Abbottabad.

Mobile networks will also be affected in three districts of Balochistan, seven districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and various parts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Although there has been no official confirmation of the duration, reports suggest that normal mobile phone services will resume by 9pm on Muharram 9 and 10.