PESHAWAR: The Christian community on Sunday celebrated Christmas with religious zeal and fervour across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the provincial metropolis, amid tight security.

Special prayers for peace and prosperity were offered on the previous night in churches in Peshawar. Mass service was held in different churches, which were fully illuminated for the occasion. Most of the young participants were wearing Santa Claus costumes.

In Peshawar, Christmas prayers were offered in at least 30 churches where the law-enforcement agencies were on high alert and security measures were taken outside the churches to avoid any untoward incident. Xmas trees, fairy lights, Santa caps and fireworks dotted the churches in Peshawar.

It was observed that in different churches, including All Saints Church, St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Cathedral Church and St Michael Catholic Church, special Christmas trees were prepared to celebrate the event.

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The Christian community members arranged gatherings at various locations and greeted each other.

“We have started our gatherings from Dec 1, which will continue till the end of the month,” said some of the participants at the Catholic Church.

They said the Christmas festivities began with the midnight services where worshipers offered prayers for peace and prosperity of the country. The community members also participated in cake-cutting ceremonies.

Besides other priests, Joseph John and Church of Pakistan Bishop Humphrey Sarfraz Peter addressed the participants at St John Cathedral Church in Peshawar cantonment. Rev Shahzad Murad and the Bishop also addressed the community people at All Saints Church at Kohati Gate, Peshawar city, where they prayed for development of the country.

Keeping in view the deteriorating law and order situation, the police officials visited different churches and inspected security in and around the buildings. The police and volunteers of Christian community continued body search of the people at the entry points as part of the security measures.

“We are thankful to the police for providing security to churches. The terror acts in various parts of the country had caused a sense of insecurity among the people, but the situation in Peshawar remained peaceful,” priest Shahzad Murad told Dawn. He said the personnel of Pakistan Army also remained on standby in the most sensitive areas.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali visited St John Cathedral and congratulated the Christian community members.

Christmas was also celebrated in Jamrud and Landi Kotal areas of Khyber district, Kohat, Haripur, Abbottabad and other cities of the province amid tight security.

The Christian community in Haripur celebrated the annual event with religious fervour. The priests led the services at the churches and offered prayers for prosperity and peace in the country and interfaith harmony.

The community members decorated the churches and held special services at Saint John Church, Haripur, Church of Pakistan, Ghazi, Catholic Church and Evangelical Church in Ghazi tehsil.

District police officer Imran Shahid also attended the Christmas celebration and cut the cake on this occasion.

In Bajaur, the Christian community held two different ceremonies in Civil Colony and Bajaur Scouts Headquarters in Khar to celebrate Christmas.

The Christian community members said that they had been living in Bajaur district for over 60 years and enjoying the support of the local people.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2022