Historical Hindu Temple in Pakistan vandalized last year, ordered to be rebuilt by Chief Justice of Pakistan.
In December 2020, the century-old Hindu temple of Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj situated in Teri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district was vandalized and later set on fire by a group of radicals who mobbed the area in northwestern Pakistan.
The radicals who vandalized & were responsible for the total demolition of the Hindu temple last year were inspired & led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Clerics from around the local area.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday had ordered the reopening of the temple for Hindu devotees & directed the authorities to rebuild the entire temple.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed gave further instructions that the expenses to have occurred during the reconstruction process have to be recovered from the mob who attacked the temple as their irrational action was responsible for causing embarrassment to Pakistan on an international level.
To further express solidarity among communities, Chief Justice himself attended Diwali celebrations held in the temple premises during the inaugural ceremony as reported by the Express Tribune newspaper reports.
CJ Ahmed stated during the addressal of the Inaugural ceremony that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has always & will continue to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan.
He said the Hindu Community had a population of 75 lakhs & was the most significant minority community in Pakistan.
He also added that the Hindu Community enjoyed the same rights as other religions as per the constitution of Pakistan.
He assured the Supreme Court would protect the right to religious freedom & that no one had the right to demolish or harm the religious place belonging to another community.
A Digital Quran along with a turban was presented to the Chief Justice by the Pakistan Hindu Council, who had invited pilgrims from Sindh & Balochistan provinces too.
Pakistan Hindu Council Chief, who also is a member of the National Assembly, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, offered the community’s heartfelt gratitude towards the steps initiated by Chief Justice & the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Dr Vankwani is a senior leader in the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led ruling party Tehreek-e-Insaaf further added that there is a need to take such similar steps to inaugurate reconstruction of four other historical Hindu temples in the country.
Dr Vankwani said such open-hearted actions, when taken by the government of Pakistan, will undoubtedly lead to the betterment of the Pakistani image to the rest of the world.