Eid Miladun Nabi: Mobile phones likely to go silent in major cities
Conferences, congregations, processions to be organised at federal, provincial levels.
Mobile phones likely to go silent in major cities. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Cellular phone services are likely to be shut down in major cities as the country observes Eid Miladun Nabi across the country today (Tuesday) to mark the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Seerat conferences will be organised at both federal and provincial levels. Food and sweets will be distributed among the poor and the needy, special prayers would be offered at mosques. Congregations, rallies and processions will also be organised.
The federal interior ministry issued no official notification on suspending mobile phone services till the filing of this report. However, Balochistan and Sindh home secretaries confirmed that phone services will be down for the day in Quetta and Karachi, respectively.
Balochistan home secretary Asad Gillani told The Express Tribune that cellular services would be suspended from 7am to 7pm.
Meanwhile, in Sindh, cellular phone services will be suspended in 13 districts of the province, including Karachi, to avoid any untoward incident, said an official of provincial Home department on Monday. Mobile phone services will be shut down in Karachi from 7am to 10 pm.
Separately, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, phone services were suspended at midnight on Monday. No time has been specified for their restoration.
Security has also been beefed up in major cities, with law enforcers patrolling and identifying potentially volatile areas. The interior ministry has directed for seamless coordination between federal security agencies and provincial authorities.
In Peshawar, police have chalked out a comprehensive security plan, under which over 5,000 policemen and security personnel would be deployed on procession routes. CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates will be installed for people who want to join the processions. The district administration has also imposed a ban on pillion riding.
Meanwhile, in Dera Ismail Khan, motorcycle riding has been banned altogether.
Separately, in Karachi, over 20,000 policemen and 8,000 Rangers personnel will be deployed. More than 290 processions will be organised from three zones of the city, while over 390 congregations will be held.
Moreover, there is a backup force of 5,000 policemen in place for the central procession of 12th Rabiul Awwal and congregation at Nishtar Park, said IGP Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch.
No vehicles would be allowed to enter the route of central procession; however, vehicles with a security pass would be allowed. Women and children would not be allowed to enter the central procession. The IGP Sindh said that the ban on pillion riding and carrying licensed arms would remain enforced.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2014.
Cellular phone services are likely to be shut down in major cities as the country observes Eid Miladun Nabi across the country today (Tuesday) to mark the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Seerat conferences will be organised at both federal and provincial levels. Food and sweets will be distributed among the poor and the needy, special prayers would be offered at mosques. Congregations, rallies and processions will also be organised.
The federal interior ministry issued no official notification on suspending mobile phone services till the filing of this report. However, Balochistan and Sindh home secretaries confirmed that phone services will be down for the day in Quetta and Karachi, respectively.
Balochistan home secretary Asad Gillani told The Express Tribune that cellular services would be suspended from 7am to 7pm.
Meanwhile, in Sindh, cellular phone services will be suspended in 13 districts of the province, including Karachi, to avoid any untoward incident, said an official of provincial Home department on Monday. Mobile phone services will be shut down in Karachi from 7am to 10 pm.
Separately, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, phone services were suspended at midnight on Monday. No time has been specified for their restoration.
Security has also been beefed up in major cities, with law enforcers patrolling and identifying potentially volatile areas. The interior ministry has directed for seamless coordination between federal security agencies and provincial authorities.
In Peshawar, police have chalked out a comprehensive security plan, under which over 5,000 policemen and security personnel would be deployed on procession routes. CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates will be installed for people who want to join the processions. The district administration has also imposed a ban on pillion riding.
Meanwhile, in Dera Ismail Khan, motorcycle riding has been banned altogether.
Separately, in Karachi, over 20,000 policemen and 8,000 Rangers personnel will be deployed. More than 290 processions will be organised from three zones of the city, while over 390 congregations will be held.
Moreover, there is a backup force of 5,000 policemen in place for the central procession of 12th Rabiul Awwal and congregation at Nishtar Park, said IGP Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch.
No vehicles would be allowed to enter the route of central procession; however, vehicles with a security pass would be allowed. Women and children would not be allowed to enter the central procession. The IGP Sindh said that the ban on pillion riding and carrying licensed arms would remain enforced.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2014.