Pakistan: Cellular services cut for 4 hours as security measure on Eid

Islamabad: Cellular services were on Saturday cut for four hours in several Pakistani cities as part of the security measure for Eid. The services were suspended from 6 am to 10 am in the light of information from intelligence agencies and provincial governments over "threats to national security" on the first day of Eid. The suspension was not countrywide but was partial and in cities and pockets considered sensitive.

On Friday, television channels had quoted their sources as saying the suspension order applied to three cities of Sindh (Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur), three cities of Punjab (Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan), Quetta, Mastung, Gwadar, Turbat, Naseerabad and Sibi in Balochistan; Peshawar, Mansehra, Buner and Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, Gilgit and Skardu.

Cellular services were earlier suspended for security reasons during Eidul Fitr. Detractors say the suspension of services create a nuisance for the public and overseas Pakistanis, apart from inflicting massive losses on cellular companies and by extension, the national exchequer, the Express Tribune said.

The suspension was not countrywide but was partial and in cities and pockets considered sensitive.

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