The government on Friday moved to suspend mobile services in major cities as a precautionary measure to avert any act of sabotage on the occasion of Yaume Ishq-e-Rasool (PBUH), which was observed across the country. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued instructions for suspending mobile phone services in 15 major cities of the country, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Jhang, Rhimyar Khan, Attock, Murree, Chakwal, Chakri and Kot Momin.
The government on Wednesday announced a public holiday to observe the Yaume Ishq-e-Rasool across the country on September 21 (Friday) to register protest against the anti-Islam movie. The government blocked mobile services for the second time in the past month. Previously, the government suspended the service during Eidul Fitr in a bid to avert any act of terrorism.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that mobile phone service had been suspended in consultation with the Prime Minister because of potential terror threats. People were divided over the suspension of mobile phone services: one section supporting the move, while the other expressed extreme annoyance over the government action.
People who supported the move said that it averted terrorist threat, which was very likely in case of gathering of people in such large numbers. However, another segment of the society rejected the move and said that people living in remote areas and in other parts of the country faced difficulties in communicating with their loved ones. Earlier, sources in leading telecom companies had confirmed that they had received directives from their top managements for making necessary preparations for suspending cellular services in major cities.