ISLAMABAD: In a break from what has become tradition over the last few years, mobile phone and internet services were not suspended on October 11 in the federal capital due to the Muharram 9 procession.

According to Islamabad Deputy Commissioner retired captain Mushtaq Ahmed, the decision to not suspend mobile phone services was made due to the improved security situation.

“We know that the public suffer due to the suspension of mobile phone services and it was decided this year to ensure foolproof security and to not inconvenience people by suspending cellular services,” he said.

DC says services were not suspended due to improved security situation

The district magistrate Islamabad had written a letter to the Director General National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), which is available with Dawn, requesting him to suspend mobile phone services on Tuesday in connection with Muharram 9.

The letter said that in a meeting of the District Intelligence Committee, representatives of Intelligence Agencies and the Islamabad police had suggested that cellular service be suspended between 12pm and 10pm, when processions will be taken out from various sectors.

An official of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), who was not authorised to speak on record, said the PTA was waiting for a notification for the suspension of mobile phone services from the interior ministry on Monday.

“We did not receive a notification and mobile service companies were not directed suspend their services. We have not yet received a notification to suspend services in Rawalpindi for Muharram 10,” he said.

In reply to a question, the official said that cellular service companies complain of incurring financial losses due to the suspension of services on every occasion.

“These companies also say that the public also suffer due to the suspension of services and that terrorist organisations have other options as well, including the use of satellite phones,” he said.

The suspension of mobile phone services on important occasions has become routine in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Other than religious and national occasions, such services were also suspended in March this year to stop Maulana Abdul Aziz from delivering a telephonic sermon at the Lal Masjid. At that time, the maulana was not happy with the government and was delivering his sermons via phone calls due to the withdrawal of security staff.

The last time mobile phone services were suspended in most parts of the twin cities was September 6, which was defence day, due to an event being held at the General Headquarters Rawalpindi.

A resident of the federal capital, Shahid Nazir told Dawn he was pleasantly surprised to see that mobile phone services were not suspended.

“The government should avoid suspending services because mobile phones have become very important in daily life. You have to call your family every now and then, and tell them when to pick you up from work. When services are suspended, parents remain tense throughout the day because they know their children cannot call them in case of emergency,” he said.

“The security situation is also not as bad as it seems from outside the country. But when foreigners come here to find they do not have cellular service, they will think it is because the security situation is that bad,” he added.

Another resident of the capital, Mohammad Naeem said he had made plans to spend the holiday with his friends beforehand because he had expected for mobile phone services to be suspended.

“It was a pleasant surprise to find that cellular services were not suspended. It looks like the security situation has improved,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2016