4,000 policemen deployed in twin cities for Christmas.

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...