In the name of security: Cell phones remain silent – for 14 hours

Move was aimed at thwarting possible terrorist attacks during Friday’s rallies.

LAHORE:

Cellular services remained suspended for about 14 hours in major cities across the country – including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar – and in some districts for security reasons.

The move was prompted by intelligence reports that al Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan could manipulate Friday’s protests against the sacrilegious film to carry out terrorist attacks, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The interior ministry asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on Thursday to ensure all cellular companies suspend their services before dawn on Friday in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Murree, Chakwal, Jhang and some other parts of the country.

After the 14-hour shutdown, the cellular companies started restoring services about 5:10pm. However, the services were briefly suspended in some cities, particularly in Karachi, for unknown reasons.

Interior ministry sources told The Express Tribune that they had received intelligence reports that terrorists could carry out IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks in Karachi and other cities. And the cellular services were suspended to thwart such attacks.

This is not the first time cellular services were suspended in the country. On last Eidul Fitr too, the cellular services were blocked for a few hours for security reasons. The move had helped the government thwart possible terrorist attacks, according to sources.

However, detractors say suspension of cellular services caused nuisance for the general public, and inflicted huge losses on cellular companies as well as national exchequer on account of taxes.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.