Procession preparations: No cellular service from 6am to 10pm

Decision taken after serious consideration and keeping potential threats in mind

KARACHI: Cell phone services in the province will remain suspended on Muharram 9 and 10 (Monday and Tuesday) from 6am to 10pm, as a precautionary measure by the Sindh government.  According to the Sindh home department’s spokesperson, this decision was taken after serious consideration and keeping potential threats in mind. To make sure nothing goes wrong in the city, more than 18,557 policemen, in addition to the police stations’ force, will be on duty on Muharram 9 on all routes, including the main procession and venues of over 650 majalis and around 50 mahafil in the city. This information was shared with the IG Sindh, Ghulam Haider Jamali, in a report prepared by the AIG Karachi, Ghulam Qadir Thebo on Muharram security preparations on Sunday. The Sindh home department has also imposed a ban on pillion riding in Karachi while exhibiting weapons is also prohibited.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2014.