Islamabad police raise Minority Protection Unit to guard minority worship places

The Islamabad police has raised a Minority Protection Unit (MPU), having a strength of 70 cops, for guarding the minority places of worship and communities, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a post loaded on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, the federal police said “Seventy jawans (policemen) have been posted in the ‘Minority Protection Unit’.”

The move came a day after a violent mob ransacked and torched several churches and attacked the houses of members of the Christian community following an alleged incident of blasphemy in the Jaranwala.

The police in federal capital said that under the MPU, the district police officers will be responsible for the protection of minority places of worship and communities in their areas. “Liaison with minority committees will be strengthened at each divisional level,” it added.

"مینارٹی پروٹیکشن یونٹ" میں 70 جوان تعینات کردیے گئے۔

تمام ڈی پی اوز اپنے علاقہ میں اقلیتی عبادتوں گاہوں اور آبادیوں کی حفاظت کے ذمہ دار ہوں گے۔ ہر ڈویژن کی سطح پر اقلیتی کمیٹیوں سے رابطوں کو مضبوط بنایا جائے گا۔

مینارٹی پروٹیکشن یونٹ ایس ایس پی آپریشنز کی زیر نگرانی فرائض سر…

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) August 17, 2023

The police further stated that the unit has been established as per the recommendations of the National Minorities Commission  which will perform its duties under the supervision of the senior superintendent of police (operations). Policemen have also been selected from the recent recruitment for the Minority Protection Unit,” the police added.

Reporter Farzana Siddique