RAWALPINDI: The Christian community on Sunday celebrated Easter amid tight security. This year, churches witnessed large gatherings for the first time after over two years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The churches in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were decorated with lights and flowers. Carols and hymns were sung and the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection were played there.

Though the celebrations started after Good Friday prayers, the main functions of Easter started late on Saturday night. However, the sunrise procession, the main ritual of the Easter Sunday, was limited to the premises of churches.

There was hustle and bustle in and around the churches as all members of the Christian community gathered at their worship places to celebrate the festival.

Saint Joseph Cathedral organised services at 12 night where prayers were offered followed by morning services.

Special security arrangements put in place in twin cities

During main congregations in churches, Christian clerics stressed the need for religious tolerance, fraternity and brotherhood, saying: “There is a dire need to spread the message of Jesus Christ for the love of humanity without any discrimination. We prayed for the prosperity for the country,” Dr Joseph Arshad, Bishop of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Diocese, said in his address.

Other clerics said the message of love and peace would be spread in the country and attention would be paid on education so people would tolerate and gave equal respect to each other.

Meanwhile, Sunday was a fun day for the community, especially children. Special feasts were served as it was the end of a 40-day fasting period in Christianity.

Bakers in the garrison city made especial arrangements and prepared cakes and Easter eggs from chocolate. “Gifts were distributed among friends and families to celebrate resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion,” Yousaf Gill, a visitor to St Marry’s Church, explained.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police had made special security arrangements in and around churches. Leaders of political parties visited the localities of the Christians to express solidarity with them.

Security audit

A fresh security audit of 984 churches across Punjab, including the Rawalpindi region, found several serious lapses in March and termed the security “unsatisfactory” though slightly improved.

The security arrangements put in place and lapses were compared with February - March 2022.

The intelligence agencies noticed that CCTV cameras were not installed in 31 per cent of the worship places. Contrary to claims, police were not deployed in 15pc of the places in February compared to 14pc in March. However, the intelligence said there was a 1pc improvement.

It was also observed that private security guards were not deployed in 68pc of the places in February compared to 66pc in March. Walk-through gates were not found in 98pc in February compared to 96pc in March 2022.

Metal detectors were not available in 65pc of the places in February compared to 61pc in March. Moreover, body search was not carried out in 54pc of churches in February compared to 50pc in March.

There was also no suitable parking at safe distance in 65pc of the churches compared to 64pc in March. Duty at vantage points was found missing in 88pc places in February compared to 87pc in March.

The fresh security audit in which eight serious security lapses at churches were noticed indicated the dire need to tighten the security of churches. The lacunas in security identified in the report and the report issued previously on the security issue should be attended to on a priority basis in order to avoid any untoward incident.

It was suggested that the local authorities in consultation with the administration of the churches should devise a mechanism to overcome the deficiencies.

The fresh security audit termed the security measures “unsatisfactory” during the service times and suggested tightening the arrangements. The shortcomings indicated in the fresh security audit should be removed to avert any terrorist activity, it added.

Security was stepped up with 1,200 policemen around places of worship on the Easter in Rawalpindi district.

With no specific terror threat, the law enforcement agencies have chalked out a security plan with deployment of police and patrols around worship places, including mosques, imambargahs and churches.

The police were told to focus on gatherings and services which traditionally attract more people at specific times. However, it has been observed that police have been concentrating less on markets, especially in Ramadan, when a large number of people visit there.

City Police Officer Omer Saeed Malik has already directed the officers to pay special attention on security.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2022