In the wake of possible terror attacks, the Interior ministry suspended the mobile phone services in country’s major cities after Jumma prayers till the end of Youm-e-Ashoor (10 Muharram).
The cities where mobile service has been suspended included Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, Mansehra, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Haripur and Peshawar.
The interior ministry has cited security threats in the said cities during next three days.
It should be mentioned that some political leaders of Sindh and Punjab and people at large have opposed the interior ministry decision of shutting down the cellular phones service.
They were of the view that suspending mobile service was not the permanent solution to stop the terrorism but long termed strategies were needed to curb this menace.
Only Balochistan government has backed the federal government proposal to suspend mobile phone service.
Balochistan Interior Secretary Akbar Durrani has said that the mobile phone service in Quetta, Loralai, Naseeabad, and Zhob will remain suspended on 9th and 10th Muharram.
He said that the provincial government has not taken any decision to put a ban on motorcycle riding in Quetta, however, ban on pillion riding will remain enforced.
