LAHORE: The Punjab police beefed up security around hundreds of churches in the province after attack on Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on Sunday.

Punjab IG Arif Nawaz Khan issued the orders to field officers including CCPO, RPOs and DPOs to review security arrangements at churches.

He directed all divisional and district police chiefs to launch combing- and intelligence-based operations in sensitive localities, saying patrolling should be increased in all areas.

He said police should be deployed at all important points of churches including entry and exit points, surroundings, rooftops, ensuring three-tier checking of participants and parking of vehicles at least 200 meters away from first checking point.

CCPO Amin Wains has also ordered to enhance checking at entry and exit points of the city and increase patrolling by Police Response Unit and Dolphin Squad.

He directed to start search operations in and around the churches and residential areas of minorities.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf ordered security around parks and public gatherings.

He has requested to send an SMS on 8330 and call at 15 in case of any emergency.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2017