KARACHI: Cellular phone services were suspended in Karachi and Quetta upon the federal government's directives, DawnNews reported.

The services would remain suspended until 7 pm today in light of security concerns on the first day of Muharram.

After the announcement that the moon for Muharram had been sighted on Thursday, Dawn had learnt that the government was considering suspending mobile phone services in Quetta and Karachi for a few hours.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik had ordered all motorcyclists off the road in Quetta and Karachi while also announcing that “no one will be allowed to carry weapons” on Friday.

The decision to ban motorcyclists off the road was overturned by the Sindh High Court soon after the announcement.

Malik had also announced that markets would remain closed in Karachi and Quetta at 5 pm on the first day of Muharram.

The interior minister added that all permissions for tinted glass on vehicles stood cancelled across the country, although security-related official vehicles would be exempted.

Earlier this year, the interior ministry had blocked mobile phone services in major cities on several occasions, including during Eid holidays.