Sindh seeks to suspend mobile phone services on 9th, 10th Muharram

KARACHI: Home Minister Sindh Sohail Anwar Khan Siyal has approached the interior ministry to suspend mobile phone services in major cities across the province on 9th and 10th Muharram, Geo News reported.

The home minister is awaiting a decision by the interior ministry on suspension of mobile phone services in major cities including Karachi, as part of security arrangements for Ashura, which will be observed on Sunday.

Media will be notified as soon as a decision is made by the interior ministry in this regard, he said.

Meanwhile, the Sindh home minister has issued directives to police to ensure deployment of heavy force under Muharram Contingency Plan 2017 in order to ensure extraordinary security measures in the province.

According to the Muharram contingency plan, police is ensuring strict security cover at over 1,520 Imambargahs, 12,700 Majalis, 4,150 mourning processions and 1,400 Tazia processions in the province. Electronic and visual surveillance and use of sniffer dogs for explosives detection and sweeping of routes and venues will be carried out by Bomb Disposal Unit, especially at under-construction buildings.