ISLAMABAD (MEDIA)
As the observance of Ashura draws to a close all over the country, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has restored cellular services in many parts of Pakistan.
The government had suspended mobile phone services in most cities to avoid terrorist activity during Muharram 9 and 10.
The PTA has now announced that services will be restored by 10pm in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, while the service has already been restored in many parts of Punjab.
The service was also restored in parts of Sindh and Balochistan as the clock struck 9 pm. The services were blocked in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Chakwal, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Jhang, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Layyah, Rahimyar Khan, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Pakpattan, Khairpur, Sehwan, Nawabshah, Larkana Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu, Lakki Marwat and Bannu.
At midnight, mobile phone signals were back in Lahore and Peshawar as well.
Rawalpindi, where clashes have erupted, has seen services partially restored. Reports indicate that cellular services in Rawalpindi might also remain suspended for two additional days.