Mobile phone services in 20 Pakistani cities were suspended today to prevent terrorist attacks during annual Shia Ashura rituals.
Cellular services were also partly suspended in Islamabad.
Militants in Pakistan detonate bombs using cell phones and the government has implemented similar service suspensions in the past two years.
On the request of the Sindh government, cellular services were suspended in the cities of Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Rohri and Jacobabad.
The Sindh government also imposed a ban on pillion-riding across the province on the ninth and tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, during which Shias have been frequently targeted in the past.
The ban, however, would not apply to women, children below the age of 12 years, senior citizens, disabled persons, journalists and personnel of law-enforcement agencies, the Sindh home ministry had said on November 12.
The civil administration in Lahore also announced the closure of cell phone networks in areas where Muharram processions would be carried out, following which services were suspended in Gulbahar, Mall Road, Islampura and other areas.
Cellular networks were also partially shut in some areas.
Earlier yesterday, Punjab Law and Local Government Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan also announced a ban on pillion riding in Punjab on the ninth and tenth day of Muharram.
Moreover, services have also been blocked in multiple cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Hangu, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan among other areas which have been declared sensitive.
Officials said the ban was imposed in order to thwart possible terrorist attacks.
Mobile services were also suspended in some cities of PoK, including Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Rawalakot and Kotli during the Ashura period.
Cellular services were also suspended in Islamabad.
Nearly 3,000 Rangers and police personnel have been deployed across the federal capital to guard Shia processions.
Three-day curfew has been imposed in Hangu in a bid to avoid any possible untoward incident during Ashura.
According to Hangu DC Syed Ahmed Jan, the curfew has been imposed from the ninth to 11th day of Muharram and aerial surveillance would be carried out on the ninth and tenth day.
