A Pakistani minister ordered mobile services suspended in 15 cities on Friday, in a bid to stave off violent protests against controversial anti-Islam film the Innocence of Muslims.
Minister for the Interior Rehman Malik told news outlets includingThe News that services had been suspended to thwart violent demonstrations and terrorist activity.
The government called a public holiday on Friday to observe “Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool,” or “love the Prophet,” in an attempt to restore peace.
Services were switched off as early as 4am on Friday, and not restored until the evening, Pakistan Todayreported.
Mobile users and businesses relying on GSM-based services such as text messages have publicly complained about being deprived access.
But Malik has insisted that the move was necessary, in light of intelligence indicating that terror attacks and some violent protests had been thwarted by the suspension.
A trailer for the Innocence of Muslims published on YouTube has stimulated protests in multiple parts of the world.
Incidentally, the government's efforts to cool tensions among protesters has been rather undermined by its own Railways Minister's offer of a $100,000 bounty for the death of the documentary's alleged creator, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula.