QUETTA : Balochistan Government has suspended mobile and internet services in different cities on 7th, 9th and 10th July, according to a Pakistan based Parami News.
Home Ministry spokesperson of Balochistan said that the said ban on internet would affect Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Quetta, Kachhi and Usta Muhammad.
According to Parami News report, over 18k personnel have been deployed so far in Quetta for security purposes on Youm-e-Ashurah. Besides this two helicopters will be used for aerial surveillance of processions on 7th, 9th and 10 Muharram.
Similarly Section-144 has been imposed in seven districts including the imposition of restrictions such as banning pillion riding to maintain law & order situation.
Recently, violent clashes broke out in Haripur district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over road barricading during a Muharram procession in Shah Mohammad village.
Police intervened using tear gas to disperse both factions. Dawn reported that the incident resulted in injuries to fourteen people including two policemen and a journalist with stones being thrown at them as well as chairs. Punjab has designated 502 sensitive areas and deployed army and Rangers personnel under section-144 for Muharram with heightened security measures throughout Pakistan.
While this period is significant for Shia Muslims; it had also witnessed sectarian violence which have historically been exploited by extremist elements to create fear. Past attacks during Muharram have had casualties implying that there remains extant security challenges as well as misuse of social media for incitement into violence activities
At least fifteen persons died while several others were injured after a suicide bombing targeted a Shia mosque during Muharram prayers in Quetta on January 19,2007 (Dawn). These kinds of incidents underscored the serious nature of these threats
Also, at least 43 people were killed and over 100 injured in a suicide bombing on December 28, 2009 that targeted a Muharram procession in Karachi.
Moreover, another bomb attack during a Muharram procession in Rawalpindi on November 21, 2012 resulted in the deaths of at least 23 people and injured more than sixty. All these incidents point out the security threats being faced time and again during religious observances in this context.
