In Karachi, cellular services were suspended around 1 pm in the afternoon. The measures had been adopted to ensure that Muharram processions across the city and province would be carried out without any untoward incident.
Since a couple of years, cell phone services are suspended every 9th and 10th Muharram, due to the fear that the cell phones can be used to detonate bombs, resulting in massive loss of life.
Mobile phone services were also blocked in several other cities countrywide including Lahore and Islamabad.
Pillion riding has also been banned in Sindh till the 10th of Muharram, Ashura.