On 9 and 10 Muharram, mobile phone services will be suspended

PESHAWAR – Authorities have decided to suspend mobile phone service on 9th and 10th Muharram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital Peshawar due to security reasons during Ashura processions.

Qasim Ali, a police officer in the capital Peshawar, told a private news channel that mobile phone signals would be switched off for two days to ensure absolute security during this period.

He said the decision was taken to prevent any untoward incident during these days as processions and special gatherings are being held across Pakistan, including Peshawar, to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced 9 and 19 Muharram (16 and 17 July) as holidays on the occasion of Ashura 2024.

The government has issued a notification in this regard.

The first day of the new Hijri year 1446 was celebrated on Monday, July 8.

Members of the Ruet-e-Hilal Central Committee, representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Department of Meteorology, SUPARCO and the Ministry of Science and Technology attended the meeting in Quetta. At the same time, the provincial and district lunar observation committees held their meetings at their respective headquarters.