ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares to celebrate Christmas with the annual mass, carols, lights and Christmas trees, the security forces would remain on high alert.
###
The authorities have tightened security around churches and mass prayer sites all across the country. 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 security has been boosted to guard against potential terror attacks amid reports that three suicide bombers including a woman belonging to terrorist group TTP could target a church in Lahore on Christmas Eve. To further ensure foolproof security for the Christian community, the administration has decided to deploy snipers on the rooftops of nearby buildings.
###
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Shoaib Dastgir said the Christians are an integral part of society and the police force would ensure full security utilising all available resources so that the Christian community can celebrate their religious festival without any fear. Police departments would also remain in close coordination with rescue 1122, fire brigade and emergency health services as part of security arrangements.
###
In Islamabad city, more than 1000 police officers have been deployed in and around places of worship places during Christmas, according to DIG (Operations) Islamabad Waqar Uddin Syed. Anti-terrorist squad and bomb disposal units have also been alerted to enhance security.
###
In Punjab, more than 36,000 police officers and officials will perform duty at Christmas, Quaid-e-Azam day and New Year night celebrations, according to Additional IG Operations Punjab Inam Ghani. IG Punjab directed district police officers to keep close coordination with local Christian community leaders to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
###
In Punjab’s provincial capital, Lahore Capital City Police Officer Zulfiqar Hameed vowed the city police was fully prepared to provide security to parks, malls and public places. He also visited several churches to review security arrangements and held meetings with bishops and reverends to take them into confidence and also extended his felicitations.
###
“It is encouraging to see enhanced security outside the churches. We hope for a merrier and safer Christmas and will be praying for unity and safety,” Aqeela Sikander, 33, resident of Rawalpindi city, told Gulf News.
###
Christians make up only about 2.6 per cent of Pakistan’s 200 million-plus population.
###
The government has also beefed up security arrangements in and around all the 531 churches as well as recreational places in all six districts of Gujranwala Division of Punjab namely Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Gujranwala.
###
In 2017, at least nine people and 50 wounded when suicide bombers stormed a church in Quetta city before days before Christmas. In the last few years, Pakistan has heavily invested to fight terrorism and improve security in all regions.
###