Daily Times

City Police have put in place foolproof security arrangements on the eve of forthcoming Christmas as heavy contingents of police would be deployed at churches and other public places to ensure security for the Christian community.

These views were expressed by Senior Superintendent Police Operation Captain (r) Mustansir Feroz presided over an important meeting at Police Lines Qilla Gujjar Singh to review and finalise the arrangements made in this regard.

Superintendent of Police Security Faisal Shahzad, Bishop of Lahore Sebastian Sha, Minority Forum Chairman Samuel Piyara and other religious leaders of Christian community and related police officers attend the meeting.

SSP Operations said that Lahore police has chalked out a special security plan for churches, Christian colonies and important places on this eve. More than 10,000 police officers and officials will perform duties on different places on the eve of Christmas including sensitive churches.

He said it was our foremost duty to provide security to all citizens along with Christian community. He said that standard operating procedures have been conveyed to all divisional SPs and concerned officers for the safety of churches, Christian colonies and public places.

Patrolling of Dolphin squad and PRU will be enhanced around churches and related areas as well as search and sweep operations will be conducted in Christian colonies and other important places. The meeting was informed that parking area will be reserved at a distance of at least 100 metres from the churches on this eve.

Mock exercises by Lahore police will also be conducted at sensitive churches, parks and other important places to ensure security. Mustansir Feroze said that no one will be allowed to violate the law. He hoped that all stake holders including Christian leaders will extend full cooperation to police officers and officials to ensure safety of the citizens on this sacred eve.

SSP operations added that strict security measures were ensured to the community as more police personnel’s were deputed in A, B, C categories at various churches around the city. He added churches in A category were considered highly sensitive and they were provided a good number of security personnels, especially installed walk through gates, closed circuit television cameras in these places.

The security of the churches was also reviewed in detail and it was decided that Quick Response Force, PRU, Dolphin Force and others deployed around the churches on daily basis. SSP said that police and volunteers of all churches together would perform security duties outside at all churches and other places to avoid any untoward incidents.

Published in Daily Times, December 13^th 2018.