On Friday, huge contingents of security soldiers deployed along procession routes ensured that Muharram 9 Ashura processions concluded smoothly in every region of the country.
In other locations identified as dangerous by the proper authorities, cellular and transportation services remained unavailable.
Islamabad’s central processions went through Sectors G-6 and G-7, guarded by city police, Frontier Corps, and paramilitary Rangers.
A total of 1,685 security personnel, including 60 Rangers and 365 FC members, were stationed throughout the city, as reported by Express News. This number includes five deputy police officers, fourteen deputy superintendents, twenty-one police inspectors, and one hundred seventy-seven officers.
Mobile phone service reportedly remains unavailable or severely disrupted in 13 critical districts in Punjab today and tomorrow, 10 Muharram. These cities and others like Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Gujarat, Jhang, Bhakkar, Leh, Multan, Sahiwal, Chakwal, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan were included.
According to this article, 4,698 police officers would be on duty for security on Ashura.
In Karachi, places where mobile phone service was either going to be halted or disrupted until Saturday included Steel Town, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Jaffar-e-Tayyar Society, Malir 15, Future Colony, Dawood Chowrangi, and Haji Zakaria Goth.
The PTA also detailed partial suspensions of cellular service in several regions, including Shah Latif Town, Bhittaiabad, Memon Goth Main Market, and Bin Qasim Town.
In addition, per Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), pillion riding is illegal throughout the whole province of Sindh.
Security Measures Increased for Muharram
Services for mobile phones will be restored later today, only to be temporarily shut down again at 8 a.m. tomorrow before being restored again at around 10 p.m.
Security concerns have also forced the suspension of the Peshawar Bus Service. A spokeswoman for the city’s transportation administration said that the Peshawar BRT and the Zu Bicycle sharing system will both be unavailable for the next two days.
In addition, Quetta’s internet and mobile phone services have been cut off for the next three days.
