The Punjab government has announced a partial suspension of mobile services in 10 districts on the chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala, while it will continue uninterrupted in the rest of the cities.
The temporary blackout, which has been recommended in the areas hosting mourning processions and majalis, will affect selected areas from 5am to 11pm on the day of chehlum. The chehlum is set to fall on August 26 this year, which is the 20th of the Islamic month of Safar.
The districts that are set to be impacted by the mobile service suspension include Rawalpindi, Jhang, Layyah, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Chakwal, and Toba Tek Singh. The restrictions will be limited to areas falling on the mourning procession routes and majalis points where large crowds are expected.
According to officials, mobile services will remain operational in the rest of Punjab, including Lahore. The Punjab Home Department has reportedly submitted a formal request to the federal government based on the recommendations of local police forces to implement these preventive measures.
The decision comes as part of heightened security protocols aimed at maintaining peace during the observance of chehlum, which commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and the tragedy of Karbala.
