On Tuesday, the federal government declared a two-day public holiday for Muharram 9 and 10. A notification from the Cabinet Division stated, “The Prime Minister is pleased to declare 16th and 17th July, 2024 (Tuesday and Wednesday) as public holidays on the occasion of Ashura (9th & 10th Muharram 1446 AH).”
Muslims worldwide will observe this religious occasion with grief and sorrow. As a security measure, the government has approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces (CAF) across the country during Muharram.
Read more: Pakistani Govt Authorizes Army Deployment Nationwide For Muharram
The interior ministry’s notification indicated that details of troop deployment, effective for an indefinite period, will be coordinated with relevant authorities, including the governments of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad.
The notification also mentioned that the date for ending the deployment will be decided through mutual consultation among all stakeholders.
Furthermore, provincial governments, including Punjab, have requested the federal government to suspend social media platforms for a week to curb the spread of hate material online. However, the federal government has not yet made a decision regarding internet service suspension during Muharram. Any such decision will be made in consultation with the provinces, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior earlier today.
