00:10
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Karachi
While some remained helpless after the government suspended cell phone services on Friday, the more tech savvy dwellers of Karachi used mobile applications to keep in touch and others reconnected with an old friend; the landline.
The services were suspended to prevent cell phone bombs, a relatively newer weapon of terrorists, who seem to have found methods of wreaking havoc other than suicide bombings.
In the age of fast track communication, barring mobile phones proved to be an added discomfort for citizens who were already frustrated with skyrocketing inflation, restive law and order, and fuel shortages.
“I reconnected my landline and made some short phone calls that lasted a few seconds. It was just like I use text messaging on my mobile phone service,” said Ali Khan, who works for an advertising agency.
The younger lot used applications such as Tango, Viber and Whatsapp on their mobile phones. The applications allowed people to stay connected using the internet and users sent messages and made phone calls through the applications.
The roads wore a deserted look, as the city decided to stay indoors, safe from trouble.
Yet another issue faced by residents living in Shia majority areas was precautionary security measures. Security near Imambargahs and procession routes was beefed up to the extent that even a pedestrian could not cross. Residents stayed under house arrest as they could not escape the heavily cordoned off areas.
“We have lived peacefully with our Shia brothers for fifty years. Now I suddenly feel like an outsider in an area that I have lived in for fifty years,” said Sanaullah Kazi, a resident in North Nazimabad.
Residents, who live along the procession routes chose to shift for a few days after being instructed to keep their windows closed at all times.
“I miss the old times when processions would pass peacefully and people were free to practice their beliefs without fear of being judged,” said 85-year old Allah Riko, a resident of an apartment on MA Jinnah Road.
While some remained helpless after the government suspended cell phone services on Friday, the more tech savvy dwellers of Karachi used mobile applications to keep in touch and others reconnected with an old friend; the landline.
The services were suspended to prevent cell phone bombs, a relatively newer weapon of terrorists, who seem to have found methods of wreaking havoc other than suicide bombings.
In the age of fast track communication, barring mobile phones proved to be an added discomfort for citizens who were already frustrated with skyrocketing inflation, restive law and order, and fuel shortages.
“I reconnected my landline and made some short phone calls that lasted a few seconds. It was just like I use text messaging on my mobile phone service,” said Ali Khan, who works for an advertising agency.
The younger lot used applications such as Tango, Viber and Whatsapp on their mobile phones. The applications allowed people to stay connected using the internet and users sent messages and made phone calls through the applications.
The roads wore a deserted look, as the city decided to stay indoors, safe from trouble.
Yet another issue faced by residents living in Shia majority areas was precautionary security measures. Security near Imambargahs and procession routes was beefed up to the extent that even a pedestrian could not cross. Residents stayed under house arrest as they could not escape the heavily cordoned off areas.
“We have lived peacefully with our Shia brothers for fifty years. Now I suddenly feel like an outsider in an area that I have lived in for fifty years,” said Sanaullah Kazi, a resident in North Nazimabad.
Residents, who live along the procession routes chose to shift for a few days after being instructed to keep their windows closed at all times.
“I miss the old times when processions would pass peacefully and people were free to practice their beliefs without fear of being judged,” said 85-year old Allah Riko, a resident of an apartment on MA Jinnah Road.
Posted in: Karachi News
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