Mobile Phone Services to Remain Blocked During Qadri’s Long March

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed all cellular service providers to keep cellular and wireless services blocked in the vicinity of Long March of Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri.
The long march of the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran, which has been dubbed as the ‘democracy march’ by  Dr Tahirul Qadri is on the way from Lahore to Islamabad.

It is said that Long March may take more than 36 hours to reach its destination, while several stays are expected along the way.
PTA directive said that cellular services will remain blocked on the route of long march throughout its way to Islamabad. Directive said that cellular operators will be  responsible to curtail the spillover signals from all cell phone towers in vicinities of the long march so that to ensure closure in its true letter and spirit .
Currently, the services are suspended in below mentioned areas of Lahore:

•  Model Town
• New Campus
• Ichhra Bridge
• Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam
• Dharampura, Garhi Shaho
• Noulakha Chowk
• Do Moria Pull
• Minar-e-Pakistan
• Ravi Bridge
• Shahdra Mor
• Imamia Colony

Mobile phone services in these areas will remain blocked till further orders by the regulator. It is expected that mobile phone services will be blocked — with time — throughout GT Road. Early reports suggest that mobile phone services will be blocked on following routes:

• Shahdara to Rawat (GT Road)
• Rawat Link road to Faizabad, Rawalpindi (Islamabad Highway)
• Faizabad, Rawalpindi to Blue Area, IslamabadThis cellular suspension was hinted by some corners due to security threats that are imminent during this Long March. As always, Government has adopted this unusual way to tackling terrorism by blocking mobile phone service. It is said that suspension of mobile phone services will further hinder the management and organization of Long March, which is already undergoing severe blockade by provincial and federal governments.
  Dr. Tahirul Qadri has already expressed his reservations over the decision and said that hundred of thousands of long march participants are unable to co-ordinate due to service suspension. He said that there are participents who went missing due to radio silence.
  Dr. Qadri has demanded the immediate restoration of mobile phone services.
  Service Suspension in Karachi:
  In a related news, mobile phone services in Clifton, Karachi, are to remain blocked for three hours from 7 PM to 10 PM today. Directive said that Interior Ministry has advised to keep the services suspended in Clifton for security reasons.
  Update (11:00 PM)
  Mobile services in Karachi are reportedly restored.
  Update (11:45 PM)
  We are getting reports that Mobile Phone services on GT road — till Jehlum/Gujar Khan — are being blocked.