Police braced for threat to churches

SP Security Lahore Police vows to ensure foolproof security at 551 churches


Our Correspondent December 20, 2017
SP Security Lahore Police vows to ensure foolproof security at 551 churches. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: Lahore is facing threats of terrorist attacks on Christmas and New Year’s and therefore, an officer at the rank of a superintendent of police will be reviewing security arrangements for A-category churches, a senior police officer told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, SP Security Lahore Police Ammara Athar said they were ensuring foolproof security arrangements at a total of 551 churches and all parks, including 18 major ones, in the city. She said 427 fell into the C-category, 61 in the B-category and 63 in the A-category, according to sensitivity.

In the City Division, there were a total of 67 churches of which 46 fell into the C-category, 13 in the B-category and eight in the A-category. In the Civil Lines Division, there were a total 42 churches of which 27 fell into the C-category, seven in the B-category and eight in the A-category.

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In Cantonment Division, there were a total of 173 churches of which 142 fell in the C-category, 17 in the B-category and 14 in the A-category. In Iqbal Town Division, of the total 28 churches, 21 were in the C-category, four in the B-category and three in the A-category.

In Saddar Division, of the 96 churches, 73 fell in the C-category, 10 in the B-category and 13 in the A-category. In the Model Town division, there were a total of 145 churches and 118 of these came under the C-category, 10 in the B-category and 17 in the A-category.

To consider the security of churches, the Punjab IGP had conducted an RPO conference on Saturday, a day before Quetta Church attack. Another meeting of senior police officers was held on Monday. During these meetings, the IGP ordered RPOs and DPOs to personally review security arrangements of churches. A meeting, chaired by the CCPO Amin Wains, was also held at Qila Gujjar Singh Police lines on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the CCPO ordered divisional SPs to visit churches, maintain close coordination with Christian community members, increase patrolling around the places of worship and thoroughly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed for security.

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In this regard, SP Civil Lines held a meeting with Christian community members and administration of churches in his division at Alhamra Hall on Mall Road.

Ammara said she has reissued orders for the implementation of SOPs for the security of churches to all the concerned officers and officials. According to the SOP, exterior boundary of churches must be eight feet high.

The measures also outlined at least a two-foot high barbed wire to be installed on the boundary wall. The entry/exit points must be reduced to a minimum and an exit gate be specified in case of an emergency.

The participants must be checked physically, with metal detectors, and asked to pass from walkthrough gates. The vehicles entering the premises of a church should be checked using bottom view mirrors. CCTV cameras, with video recording facility, must be installed at different points of a church. A UPS and generator facility must be available for the working of these CCTV cameras.

The church administration should have all details of particulars of security guards. These personnel should be cleared by the special branch and be trained. They must also belong to a security company with a accreditation certificate.

Armed snipers should also be deployed at rooftops/vantage points of churches. The volunteers should also be deployed for security duty.

All the entry points should have concrete and zigzag barriers. All important phone numbers must be displayed in prominent places. The parking of vehicles should be allotted at a safe distance. Irrelevant persons, vendors and beggars cannot be allowed to roam around the area, according to the SOP, said Ammara. She added they were trying to implement these security measures very strictly.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2017.

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