4,000 policemen deployed in twin cities for Christmas

CCTV cameras, walk-through gates placed at all churches


​ Our Correspondents December 25, 2019
St Thomas Church in Sector G-7/2, Islamabad, is illuminated on the Christmas Eve. PHOTO: ONLINE

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: As the Christian community in the twin cities prepare to celebrate Christmas with religious fervour and enthusiasm, police were putting in place their security plan for the day.

More than 3,000 policemen in Rawalpindi and over 1,000 in Islamabad will be performing security duties at churches, where bomb disposal squads have already made rounds to confirm the security of the worship places.

Police have installed closed circuit TV cameras and walk-through gates besides plainclothesmen and women police for the security of the churchgoers.

Meanwhile, Christmas preparations have been completed throughout the Rawalpindi city and cantonments. All churches and homes of the Christian community have been decorated with Christmas trees, coloured flags, and electric buntings. Besides decoration, people have also bought Christmas cakes, dried fruit, and gifts for children to celebrate the day.

By Tuesday evening, Christian families were preparing to attend the midnight mass. The morning mass and worship ceremonies will start in all churches of the twin cities at 9am. Special prayers for the prosperity of the country will also be offered after the mass.

High alert in the capital

Islamabad police have devised a comprehensive security plan for Christmas in the federal capital, under which over 1,000 security personnel including policewomen will perform their duties in different parts of the city, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

According to a police statement, following directions of Operations DIG Waqaruddin Syed, all four zonal SPs will monitor their respective areas to ensure security in and around the churches.

The police have also issued a separate security order for all the churches, besides the deployment of additional personnel to keep an eye on the suspects.

As per the security plan, different teams of Islamabad Police will patrol in their areas under the supervision of SDPOs and SHOs. The respective SPs will monitor the security and patrolling plan to ensure complete law and order in the federal capital on Christmas.

Volunteers along with policewomen will also remain deployed outside the churches to facilitate the worshippers while additional security personnel will be deployed at all public places as well to keep an eye on suspicious people.

The police will also ensure strict security measures at all entrance and exit routes of the federal capital, besides deployment of Bomb Disposal Squads in different areas to deal with any emergency.

All police stations in Islamabad have been instructed to maintain their duty rostrum and nominate teams to patrol all sectors and rural areas of the federal capital.

DIG Operation Islamabad said that Islamabad police will fully cooperate with the Christian community on this auspicious day and ensure foolproof security, besides promoting interfaith harmony.

He said that it is the utmost duty of the police to ensure security for the life and property of the citizens, adding that the police would use all resources to maintain law and order in the city.

The DIG said that zonal SPs have been provided with the additional police personnel while the police reserve force will remain ready at Aabpara Police Station to respond to any emergency.

Pindi plan

Police and security forces in Rawalpindi would remain on high alert as the entire country prepares to celebrate Christmas with the annual mass, carols, lights and Christmas trees.

The authorities have tightened security around 159 churches in the Rawalpindi region. As many as 3,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city, police said, adding that churches would be provided three-layered security.

Churches, where a large footfall is expected, will have elite commandoes stationed at the entry gates of as well as on rooftops.

To strengthen protection of religious buildings, walk-through gates have been installed at entry and exit points and the Christmas services would be monitored through CCTV cameras. The community members would be allowed entry to the churches after thorough frisking.

In this regard, Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Tajik talked to The Express Tribune on the overall security arrangements on the occasion of Christmas.

He said that Rawalpindi had remained a target of terrorism in the past. Schools, churches, and hospitals have been targeted in the city, Tajik said explaining the need for high-alert on festive occasions.

He added that Rawalpindi, Murree, Taxila were on the aim of the miscreants and considering this, 159 churches and other mass prayer sites of the Christian community were being provided foolproof security.

The police chief of the Rawalpindi division said that the security officials would be monitored by the senior police officers of the related jurisdictions. He added that he would personally oversee the security arrangements across the district as well.

RPO further added that not only the churches but the recreational sites including parks, Murree and hospitals will also have tight security for the day. Senior police officers would be patrolling on Christmas Eve, he said and asserted that the police along with other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) will ensure fullproof security measures on the religious occasion of the Christian community. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2019.

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