LAHORE: The mobile phone companies have been instructed by the government to suspend their services in various cities of the country as part of security arrangements for Youm-e-Ali (RA) on Wednesday (today).
In Karachi, the cellular services would remain suspended from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, in Lahore from 4:00am to 8:00 pm, in Rawalpindi from 4:00 am to 6:00 pm, in Gujranwala from 3:00 am to 1:00 am Thursday, and in Sargodha from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The services would also be shut in Jhang, Sialkot and others cites on account of Youm-e-Ali (RA).
Moreover, the government has also decided to impose a ban on pillion riding in the areas adjacent to the procession and gatherings which are organized across the country to mark the martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (RA).
In Lahore, DIG operations Rai Mohammad Tahir said that the procession will be monitored with the help of 300 close circuit cameras and people will be allowed to attend the procession only after being frisked at three separate points. Snipers would also be positioned above high rise buildings along the procession route, he said.
The DIG operations said that as many as 5000 police personnel will be deployed in Lahore.
Police has also issued a traffic map for Karachi, listing alternative traffic routes and all the areas which have been blocked off.
