IG Punjab Orders Church Security on High Alert, Continues Illegal Arms Crackdown

IG Punjab Abdul Kareem ordered high alert security for churches across the province during Christian prayer programmes.
Supervisory officers must personally check church security; snipers to be deployed at sensitive churches.
Punjab Police recovered 760 Kalashnikovs, 26,897 pistols and 1,45,764 bullets this year in the anti-illegal-arms campaign.
Indiscriminate action ordered against aerial firing, arms display and social media weapon glorification.

LAHORE: Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem has ordered police across the province to remain on high alert in view of Christian prayer programmes being held at churches in Lahore and other cities.

The IG Punjab directed RPOs, DPOs and senior police officers to increase security at churches. He ordered supervisory officers to personally check the security arrangements at churches and other important and sensitive locations.

Abdul Kareem directed that additional police personnel and snipers be deployed at sensitive churches. Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit and Elite teams will conduct effective patrolling around churches. He ordered deployed officers and jawans to remain extremely alert and keep a close watch on mischievous elements.

Search and sweep operations will continue around churches, Christian neighbourhoods and sensitive locations, the IG said. He also appealed to religious scholars, the Christian community and members of peace committees to promote interfaith harmony.

In a separate directive under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Safe Punjab vision, the IG Punjab ordered the continuation of the campaign against illegal weapons. Punjab Police has recovered illegal arms used in serious crimes, arms display and other violations across the province.

According to police data, this year Punjab Police recovered 760 Kalashnikovs, 26,897 pistols, 1,342 rifles, 2,096 guns, 592 revolvers and 1,45,764 bullets. In the provincial capital Lahore alone, operations recovered 22 Kalashnikovs, 118 rifles, 140 guns, 4,915 pistols, 108 revolvers and 24,331 bullets.

The IG Punjab ordered indiscriminate legal action against elements involved in keeping illegal arms, displaying weapons and aerial firing. He directed the strictest measures against those involved in the purchase, sale and transportation of illegal weapons.

Abdul Kareem also ordered regular checking of arms dealers’ licences, weapon stocks and sale-purchase records. Legal action will be taken against those displaying weapons on social media and promoting illegal arms, he said.