{
  "id": 12847181,
  "title": "Mobile services reportedly non-functional in parts of Peshawar ahead of PTI march’s expected arrival",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/mobile-services-reportedly-non-functional-in-parts-of-peshawar-ahead-12847181",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T10:30:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2035662/mobile-services-reportedly-non-functional-in-parts-of-peshawar-ahead-of-pti-marchs-expected-arrival"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PESHAWAR: On Thursday, large portions of the provincial capital reportedly experienced a sudden loss of mobile and internet connectivity, according to the Dawn news agency. The blackout began the previous night and coincides with the anticipated arrival of the long march led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The march, which commenced on October 4 from Lakki Marwat, was expected to reach Peshawar on Thursday, according to the party's schedule. The protest aims to secure the release of party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Although the provincial government offered no explanation for the unannounced cellular disruption, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) official confirmed to Dawn that the authority had ordered the suspension at the behest of higher authorities. The official stated that the suspension was temporary and implemented as a security measure during the long march. The directive was conveyed on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, some prominent private schools across Peshawar remained closed on Thursday, while government schools, colleges, and universities remained open. Parents learned about the school closures on Thursday morning when their children returned home to find the school gates locked. Yousaf Khan, a resident of Ring Road, reported that his children were told to return home by the school gate. According to a notice from one of the private schools, the closure was due to the prevailing political climate in the city. However, the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) officials denied any official notification for the school closures and warned that disciplinary action would be taken against institutions that remain closed without government directives. The PTI's march began from Lakki Marwat on October 4, traversing through Kohat and Mattani before heading towards Islamabad, currently slated as its final destination. The federal government had warned the party against any protests or gatherings in Islamabad. Nevertheless, PTI members decided to initiate the march after weekend talks with the federal government failed to resolve their differences, primarily concerning counterterrorism policy.",
  "summary": "PESHAWAR: Large parts of the provincial capital reportedly remained without mobile and cellular internet services on Thursday in an unannounced suspension that started last night, Dawn has learnt. The move comes as PTI’s long march, launched on Oct 4 from Lakki Marwat, is set to reach Peshawar today according to PTI’s schedule. The protest march to demand the release of party founder and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Mobile services reportedly non-functional in parts of Peshawar ahead of PTI march’s expected arrival",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/mobile-services-reportedly-non-functional-in-parts-of-peshawar-ahead",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:30:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}