Cellular phone and internet services remained suspended on Friday across the city and other districts of Sindh as part of the security plan made for the 9th and 10th Muharram. "Mobile and internet services have been shut down for security reasons", said provincial home minister Anwar Siyal. Mobile phone service will also remain suspended on the Ashura day (Saturday) as part of the Sindh government's security plan which is aimed at preventing any untoward incident in Karachi and other districts of the province.
The wider security shields, stretching from different roads and streets, especially those connecting M.A. Jinnah Road, also caused hardships to the participants of the 9th Muharram procession. As Friday was also declared a public holiday, public transport remained thin in most parts of the city while major commercial centres presented a deserted look. Rangers patrolled all the key procession routes, while police personnel had set up picketing at different places to check movement of anti-social elements.
Commercial activities in all markets located on either side of M. A. Jinnah Road remained suspended on the second consecutive day on Friday as all roads and streets connecting to M. A. Jinnah Road were sealed by the government as a part of its security plan. Such measures, however, deprived tens of thousands daily wage earners of their livelihood. Grain, medicine and other essential commodities' supply to other parts of the city from Jodia Bazaar also remained suspended owing to sealing of all surrounding roads.