This Article is From Aug 13, 2014

Mobile Phone Services to be Suspended in Parts of Islamabad

Islamabad: The Pakistan government has ordered suspension of mobile phone and wireless Internet services in several parts of Islamabad for an indefinite period, ahead of two major anti-government rallies.

A spokesman of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said mobile phone services may remain suspended in several parts of Pakistan's capital for up to the next three days.

"The interior ministry has issued directions to suspend mobile phone and wireless services," PTA spokesperson Khurram Mehran was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

He said that wireless Internet services will also be suspended ahead of the anti-government rallies scheduled on August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day.

A source from the telecommunications sector said they received directions from PTA to suspend mobile phone services in separate parts of Punjab, and that they will be notified at intervals to block signals at junctions where the protesters are heading.

Cellular services have already been shut down in some parts of the city.

The measure comes just days ahead of anti-government marches lead by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri.

Canada-based Pakistani cleric Mr Qadri has said that his 'Revolution March' would go along with Khan's 'Freedom March' on Thursday demanding the ouster of the Nawaz Sharif government.

While Mr Qadri wants to topple the government for its anti-poor policies and corruption, Mr Khan's party is protesting against electoral fraud in the 2013 polls won by Prime Minister Sharif's PML-N.

Some members of the ruling PML-N party fear the protesters may be getting support from elements in the powerful military, which has had a series of disagreements with the government.

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