Prayers for progress, prosperity mark Easter celebrations

Punjab law minister visits churches, reviews security

RAWALPINDI: With prayers for peace, progress and prosperity of the country, the Christian community in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi celebrate Easter Sunday with traditional religious zeal.

Easter sunrise saw celebrations in Christians neighbourhoods before people started streaming towards Churches where mass and other ceremonies and religious rituals were held.

Later, members of the Christian community headed to recreational spots in the twin cities, including Jinnah Park, Shamsabad Park, Rawal Dam, Pir Suhawa and other spots along with their families.

The police made fullproof security arrangements in this regard.

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is known as the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christians as they believe that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after he was crucified on Good Friday.

Days before Easter, members of the Christian community had started visiting markets to shop for themselves and their loved ones. It is the second biggest festival of the Christian community in a year which is celebrated with colourful traditional festivity, said a member of the Christian community.

The main ritual of the Easter celebration is to decorate Easter eggs, which come in various colours, patterns, styles and motifs.

Law minister visits Pindi churches

In Rawalpindi, Punjab Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat — a Rawalpindi native —visited different churches in the city to felicitate the Christian community and to review security arrangements there. Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Abbas accompanied Basharat during the visit.

Basharat expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements made and directed to further enhance the security of churches to avoid any untoward incident in the wake of the deadly attacks in Sri Lanka.

The minister said that such events were a symbol of joy and unity. He further said that their government was fully committed to safeguarding the lives and properties of the country’s minorities.

He said the minorities had played a vital role in the creation of Pakistan and were doing their best in making the country prosperous.

According to a police spokesperson, more than 2,000 policemen were deployed to provide security for the religious event.

Moreover, a special control room had been set up, while police contingents comprising district police and Elite Force were kept in reserves at the Police Lines Headquarters to respond in case of an emergency, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2019.