The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Monday said the mobile networks would be shut down for the chehlum of Imam Hussain (AS) on Tuesday (today), a private TV channel reported.
Mobile networks are reported to go down starting 8am to 10pm in 31 cities throughout the country, PTA said in a statement. In Lahore, the network will be suspended between 10am and 11pm, Karachi (7am and 11pm), Rawalpindi (9am to 11pm) and the service will remain suspended in Gilgit from 11am to 11pm. In Quetta the network will be suspended from 7am to 8pm.Pillion riding has also been banned in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Bahawalpur for a day. Women and children are exempted.
Security has been tightened across the country for the chehlum of Imam Hussain (AS).
The cellular services will be suspended in various cities, with the government taking strict measures to ensure security for the participants of chehlum of Imam Hussain (AS).
In Rawalpindi, where violence on Ashura left nine people dead and over 60 injured last month, the Punjab government has finalised the security plan for the chehlum.
Besides thousands of police personnel and paramilitary Rangers have also been deployed in the city, with entry and exit point of riot-hit Raja Bazaar sealed on Monday for security purpose.
According to ISPR, 10,000 army troops have been put on alert to help the government if called in aid of the law enforcers.
In Islamabad, where chehlum procession was taken out from G-6 Imambargah on Monday, 3,000 security personnel were deployed on security duties.
Police tightened the security of five main Imambargahs of the federal capital to avoid any untoward incident on the chehlum.
Police carried out joint patrolling in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the first time.
The Lahore Operations Wing DIG had said that any terrorist activity cannot be ruled out despite the arrest of a terrorist earlier.
CCTV cameras have been placed at routes of the mourning processions in the city of Multan.
In Quetta, over 5,000 personnel of police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) have been deployed to provide security to Chehlum processions, with army put on high alert.
The routes of the mourning processions will be monitored by the law enforcers.
Strict measures have been taken to control the law and order situation in Peshawar. Similar arrangements have been made for the occasion in Parachinar.
On the orders of Sindh government, authorities have made foolproof security arrangements in all sensitive area whereas the army has also been called in the metropolis as reserve force.
Deployment of the army in different areas of the Karachi was started on Monday. The troops will be deployed on top of the buildings situated along procession route.
The cellular services and pillion riding will be blocked and banned in the cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur and Larkana for chehlum. Exhibition of arms will be banned and special permissions for carrying weapons have also been cancelled.
The Karachi police have divided the city plan into different security sectors and a senior police officer of the rank of superintendent of police would be made officer in charge of each sector.
Mobile service in 31 cities to shut down for chehlum
