Churches’ security beefed up for Christmas
Sources within the Rawalpindi police said the department had finalised a security plan for the upcoming Christmas that will remain in place from Christmas Eve till the New Year.
As part of the plan, the 159 churches in the district have been divided into three categories. At least 13 of those churches have been declared highly-sensitive. Two parks along with three tourist spots in Murree have also been placed on the same level.
The source added that the security would be performed by police and other law enforcement agencies, with 2,800 armed personnel including elite commandos to be deployed to ensure the security of the Christian community.
The churches will be monitored through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, they said. A control room will be set up in the police chief’s office.
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During this time, the police will crackdown completely on one-wheeling, dangerous driving, and hooliganism. Any firework display to ring in the New Year would be dependent on prior approval of the local administration. The source said that action will be taken against celebratory gunfire unauthorised use of firecrackers.
The security of the churches declared sensitive would see police officers deployed on rooftops and other elite commandoes manning the entry and exit points.
The Rawalpindi police plans to install walk-through gates at the entrance for visitors including women and children to ensure safe Christmas celebrations.
The City Traffic Police (CTP) will make arrangements for parking vehicles for the visitors of the churches and all parking lots will be set up some 100 feet away from the current parking spaces of the churches.
All worshipers will be checked at three points. The roads adjoining the entry points of the churches will be sealed off with barbed wire while elite commandos and sniper shooters will be stationed atop buildings.
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The police vans equipped with cameras will also remain stationed outside the churches on Christmas Eve.
Sources added that senior police officials would make surprise visits to churches on the festivity day to check security arrangements and attendance of police personnel.
Security of foreign diplomats and other missions attending Christmas services will be entrusted to elite commandos. All rescue agencies including Rescue 1122, and Civil Defence will remain on high alert on Christmas night.
Sources said security will be kept on high alert in Rawalpindi till New Year’s night. Additional police force will be deployed at three tourist spots including Murree while effective security will also be provided to the public parks established in the city and cantonment areas.
Moreover, special police forces will patrol on New Year’s night to prevent one-wheeling, aerial firing, and unauthorised use of fireworks. Any violation will result in strict consequences, sources added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2023.