KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved a request of the police calling for the suspension of mobile phone services in Karachi on Saturday as Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari prepares to address a rally at a ground close to the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the provincial capital tomorrow.

The provincial police has requested the suspension of mobile phone services in other parts of Sindh as well. However, no approval has come from the provincial government in that regard.

The police had made the request in the light of tomorrow's public meeting in Karachi and has requested the government to also order the suspension of cell phone services in other parts of Sindh in order to prevent untoward incidents from occurring.

Also read: Oct 18 political show likely to paralyse city life

Karachi's traffic system is also likely to suffer serious issues on Oct 18 when the PPP stages the rally for which it has hired 3,000 city buses while police authorities have banned movement of heavy vehicles that day, ‘advising’ transporters to take alternative routes.

The PPP’s plan to reinvigorate the party through the rally is being seen as a major response to a series of public gatherings and sit-ins by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which recently staged a successful political show in Karachi, as well as those held by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

The ruling party in Sindh expects the rally under its young chairman Bilawal to mobilise its workers in Karachi and other parts of the province.

Sindh govt announces public holiday for Saturday

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Sindh has announced a public holiday on October 18 on account of Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s annual Urs.

All examinations scheduled for tomorrow at the Karachi University have been postponed and a later date of examination would be announced later.