Mobile phone services suspended in Peshawar

Cellular services to remain suspended till tomorrow; BRT also shut down, and will resume operations on July 18

PESHAWAR:

Mobile phone services in Peshawar have been suspended on Tuesday, coinciding with Muharram 9, as part of extensive measures to ensure peace during the religious observances.

Services will also remain unavailable tomorrow, Muharram 10, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Qasim Ali Khan confirmed.

The BRT service has also been completely halted.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Qasim Ali Khan has announced a security plan for Muharram, detailing that 14,000 personnel are on duty for security services in Peshawar until Ashura.

The inner city has been completely sealed off for the 9 and 10 of Muharram.

Processions are being monitored through CCTV cameras, with Frontier Constabulary troops deployed alongside the police.

The Frontier Constabulary, a federal paramilitary force overseen by Pakistan's Interior Secretary, predominantly recruits from KP and operates in various districts nationwide.

CCPO Peshawar also mentioned that snipers have been stationed on high buildings along the procession routes.

In addition to 140 closed-circuit cameras, drone cameras are also being utilized for enhanced security surveillance.

The BRT service will resume from July 18, Muharram 11.

Yesterday, the Punjab government announced the suspension of mobile services at specific locations across the province on the occasion of the 9 and 10 of Muharram-ul-Haram.

However, it was announced that mobile services will not be entirely suspended in any city but will be partially suspended from 8am to 10pm on both days, only in areas where processions and gatherings are anticipated.