Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, on orders of Interior Ministry, has directed all mobile phone operators to remain prepared to shut down cellular services in selected parts of country during Chand Raat for security reasons (that may refer to bomb blasts).
We have received confirmation letter from cellular companies that they are asked by regulator to block cellular services in following four cities: Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Quetta.
According to the ''Service in four upmentioned cities will remain blocked from 8 PM today (i.e. August 19th 2012) to 11 AM tomorrow morning (i.e. August 20th, 2012).''
An enforcement letter from PTA said that ''Mobile phone operators should remain prepared for immediately shutting down the cellular services in selected urban cities, including provincial capitals, from evening 19th August to morning of August 20th, 2012.''
Mr. Rehman Malik, Head of Interior Ministry, explained that ''Mobile Phone networks are likely to remain blocked in selected parts of country, amid security threats.''
"Service will remain down for not more than few hours only,'' he added. You can easily determine the service status by noticing the signals available over your phone. If, cellular signal bars will disappear in case of service shut down.
Following is the letter sent out to all cellular operators:
Dear All.
In order to help Law Enforcement Agencies to improve the security situation and to avoid any untoward incident in different parts of the country including provincial capitals, mobile services will be required to be closed from evening 19th August, 2012 to morning 20th August, 2012.Therefore, all mobile operators are requested to be ready as the area names will be communicated at a very short notice, please.
Regards,
Muhammad Ali, Deputy Director (Enforcement), Enforcement Division, PTA HQ,F-5/1, Islamabad.It is advised to use landline telephone services for any emergency during possible cellular shut down. But on this shut down Public Call Offices (PCO's) shall be open.
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