Extra deployment: Security beefed up for Christmas

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi police will depute 1,500 policemen to secure Christmas celebrations in the garrison city, a police spokesman said on Thursday. Security would thus be beefed at churches, parks, food outlets and shopping centres.

The measures come in light of the terror attack in Lahore earlier in the year on Easter. At least 65 people — mostly women and children — were killed and another 340 were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore where a large number of Christian community members were celebrating Easter Sunday in March.

In view of security threats, Rawalpindi police said they would deploy over 1,500 police officials around the city. Special deployments would be made at churches and public places.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2016.