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- Thousands of Shiite Muslims will organize religious processions today to mark 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom of Imam Hussain
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says decision to suspend cellular services taken to maintain law and order in Sindh province
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that cellular services will remain suspended in Sindh today, Monday, to maintain law and order as thousands of Shi’ite Muslims are expected to take part in mourning processions across the southern province.
With the start of the Islamic month of Muharram each year, Shi’ite Muslims across Pakistan hold gatherings and processions to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and his companions. These gatherings varyingly last until the day of his martyrdom, the 10th of Muharram, which is also known as the ‘Day of Ashura.’
Shi’ite Muslims also hold religious gatherings and processions in many parts of the country on the 40th day after Ashura, also known as “Chehlum,” to pay tribute to Hussain for laying down his life to uphold Islamic principles.
“It is to inform the general public that on the directions of the Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan, voice and data services will remain suspended in Karachi and interior Sindh including Khairpur, Hyderabad Larkana, Sukkur and Shikarpur on 26 August 2024 with immediate effect,” the PTA said in a press release.
It added that the decision had been taken to maintain law and order in the province on the occasion of the Chehlum.
Every year, authorities beef up security and suspend cellular services ahead of Muharram and Chehlum processions in areas that have witnessed sectarian violence in the past. Pakistan has witnessed violent attacks targeting Shi’ite Muslims in the past that have stoked sectarian tensions in the country.
In December 2009, a suicide bomber killed 43 people in Karachi during Muharram. Three years later in 2012, 23 people were killed in another suicide attack that targeted a Muharram procession, injuring 62 others in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi.