On Ashura, mobile phone services will be partially suspended in several districts of Punjab

LAHORE – Mobile services will remain partially suspended in some cities of Punjab on 9th and 10th Muharram as the provincial Home Department has recommended suspension of internet services only in the areas surrounding processions and majalis due to security reasons.

According to a Home Ministry spokesperson, mobile phone services will be partially suspended in the districts of Gujranwala, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Bhakkar, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Rajanpur, Faisalabad, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Gujrat, DG Khan and Jhang.

The spokesperson clarified that there will be no complete suspension of mobile services in any city of Punjab. The partial suspension of mobile signals will continue on 9th and 10th Muharram from 8 am to 10 pm only on procession routes and Majalis areas in the aforementioned districts.

He further stated that mobile service will be suspended at 28 locations in Rawalpindi, 15 locations in Rahim Yar Khan and 11 locations in Mianwali and Bahawalpur. Mobile service will remain suspended at 10 locations in Layyah, 7 locations in Muzaffargarh and 6 locations in Nankana Sahib.

The spokesperson also said that mobile services will remain active in 17 districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara and Chiniot. In the rest of Punjab, mobile network will be partially suspended.

Earlier, on Sunday, 7 Muharram, mobile phone services were partially suspended in some areas of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jhang, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar. Punjab Home Department spokesperson said the decision to partially suspend mobile phone services in certain places was taken to maintain law and order and ensure protection of citizens.