KARACHI: Mobile phone services have been suspended in parts of the country on account of Youm-e-Ashura.
Mobile phone services will remain suspended throughout the day in areas declared sensitive with heavy contingents of police and Rangers deployed along procession routes and Imam bargahs in all cities.
Some sensitive areas have been cordoned off with barricades and aerial surveillance is also being carried out to maintain law and order situation and avoid any untoward incident.
The cities where cellular services have been suspended include Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Multan, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala. Pillion riding was also banned in some cities.
Authorities have decided to suspend mobile phone services in Sargodha and Rahim Yar Khan till 10 pm. Cellphone services were also suspended in district Faisalabad.
Mobile phone services have been suspended in Multan from 6 am and will remain so till 10 pm. In Quetta, the internet and mobile phone services have been suspended till midnight.
Youm-e-Ashur, 10th of Muharram, is being observed with solemnity across Pakistan amid foolproof security to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions at Karbala.