Lahore: Punjab Minister Azma Bokhari said on Thursday that the decision on the suspension of cellular services under Muharram will be announced at the “eleventh hour”.
Bokhari approached the media in Lahore regarding events for Muhrram-Ul-Haram and remembered that mobile services were not suspended over Punjab during Muharram last year, although the opportunity could be used especially along the routes for grief processes this time.
However, she said it would be too early to make any final statement at this time.
The Minister said the Minister of Head will make a final decision on the case when the time comes, after reviewing reports on the current security conditions.
Meanwhile, Bokhari also confirmed that section 144 is currently being implemented throughout the province, to maintain law and order and prevent sectarian turmoil. To an inquiry, she said that a decision on a ban on pill riding will also be shared with the media soon.
Earlier today, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the decision to suspend mobile phone or internet services under Muharram will be made in consultation with the provinces.
He said this while he was chairman of a meeting to review the national security plan ahead of the religious month. The meeting reviewed security preparations for Muharram across all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltista (GB) and the federal capital, Islamabad. Officials agreed that strict action would be taken against individuals spreading religious hatred on social media platforms.
Naqvi stated that all necessary measures and decisions related to Muharram security would be conducted through mutual consultation. He confirmed that the federal government would provide full support to maintain peace in the religious month.
On the other hand, the central Ruet-E-Hilal Committee in Quetta meets today to see the crescent of Muharram 1447 Hijri.
The chairman of the committee, Moulana Abdul Khabir Azad, will be presumed for the meeting.
It points out that the meetings in Zonal and District Ruet-E-Hilal Committee are also held at the same time in their respective headquarters.
