Chehlum: Cellular services suspended in Karachi, other major cities of Sindh today

• Voice, data service to be suspended in Karachi, other cities. 
• Provincial govt takes steps to maintain law, order situation.
• Ban on pillion riding has also been imposed across Sindh. 

The Sindh government on Sunday announced suspending cellular services in all major cities of the province, including Karachi, today (Monday) on account of the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said that mobile phone services will be put on hold today in major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur and Khairpur, as part of security measures taken by the provincial government to maintain law and order in the province.

The home minister also said that the security forces will remain red alert given the law and order situation, adding that the mourning processions will also be aerially monitored.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also issued a statement, saying that voice and data service will remain suspended in Karachi and other cities of Sindh including Khairpur, Hyderabad Larkana, Sukkur and Shikarpur today on the directions of interior ministry. 

Two days ago, the provincial government also announced a holiday for all public and private schools across the province because of the Chehlum of Karbala martyrs.

Meantime, a ban on pillion riding has also been imposed across the province, including Karachi, as part of security measures to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion.

Rawalpindi's local administration earlier today announced a public holiday in the city today on account of Chehlum.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police issued a security plan for seven processions for Chehlum appearing from different Imambargahs of the city.

SSP Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar said that over 4,400 security personnel and officers will stand guard around the city with 215 others regulating the flow of vehicular traffic.