The Sindh government announced suspending cellular services in all major cities, including Karachi on Monday due to the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
As part of security measures taken by the provincial government to ensure peace and order in the province, mobile phone services would be suspended today in key cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, and Khairpur, according to Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar.
The home minister said that the mourning processions would be seen from the air, and that the security forces would stay on high alert due to the state of law and order.
In a separate statement, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that, under the interior ministry’s orders, phone and data service will be halted in Karachi and other Sindhi cities, such as Khairpur, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, and Shikarpur, today.
A vacation for all public and private schools in the province was also declared by the provincial administration two days earlier in observance of the Chehlum of Karbala martyrs.
In the meantime, in order to maintain security and prevent any unpleasant incidents on this special day, pillion riding has also been banned throughout the province, including Karachi.
Due to Chehlum, the city of Rawalpindi has declared today a public holiday, according to the local government.
A security plan for seven processions for Chehlum, which would originate from several Imambargahs in the city, was released by the Rawalpindi police in the meanwhile.
