Supreme Court Of Pakistan Ordered Reconstruction Of Demolished Hindu Temple

DETAILS ABOUT THE ATTACK

•  A group of muslims vandalised and set ablaze a Hindu temple in north western region of Pakistan on December 30, 2020. 

•  The occurrence took place in Karak district in the western province of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

• Led by local Muslim clerics, including Maulvi Sharif and leaders from radical Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, the Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj Samadhi Temple was striked by the mob after the Hindu fraternity acquired authorization from regional authorities to revamp its decades-old building.

•  Individuals were seen with hammers and oil barrels obliterating the newly constructed segment of the temple.

• Over 350 people have been cited in the FIR with around 109 being taken into custody, while search is underway to nab the rest.

•  A similar attack was attempted by Maulvi Sharif in 1997.

• Those detained have been booked under charges of “defiling a place of worship, hurting religious sentiments, robbery, hurt, arson, mischief and assault” as well as Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act.

JUDGEMENT GIVEN BY THE SC 

• A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, along with Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar heard a Suo Motu case pertaining to the destruction of the shrine.

• The bench rebuked the KP Police for their failure to protect the sacred place leading to the debaring of 12 out of 90 police officials on duty.

• KP Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz enlightened the court that the provincial government would redevelop the temple and shoulder the expenditure for the establishment. However, the chief justice remarked that the expense should be retrieved from those who vandalised the place and hence demanded the police to recover the aggregate from Maulvi Sharif and those involved in the attack.

•  The court ordered the reinstallation of the shrine in within a time period of two weeks.

•  The bench has also endeavoured a detailed report from The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) on temples and gurdwaras across the country.

• The court would hold a session on January 19 to address the status of reconstruction and revenue collection from the individuals involved.

INDIA’S TAKE ON THE ACT

•  India has expressed consequential distress over the demolition of the temple  and called on the Imran Khan government to take stringent measures against those at fault.

• In a written demarche sent to the Pakistan High Commission, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it envisages their government to share particulars of its inquiry into the ambush on the shrine.

•  “Our message reiterated that the Government of Pakistan, in discharge of its responsibilities, is expected to look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities including protection of their religious rights and cultural heritage,” reported the MEA.

•  Human rights groups in the nativity have questioned the obliterating manner of hatred towards Hindus in the nation and seek redressal for their issues. 

HINDU MINORITY IN PAKISTAN 

•  Only 5% of Pakistan’s population doesn’t belong to Islam. Out of this, only 2% are classified as Hindus. They face insurgent levels of oppression, humiliation and cruelty.

•  Members of the community held a protest outside the Peshawar Press Club, demanding the government to take strict actions against those responsible in the act.

•  Compelled changes, detachment, death threats are just the beginning of what the minorities face. Ladies of Hindu families are seized, powerfully changed over and wedded to Muslims.

Is the situation for minorities in Pakistan deteriorating? How should the government respond to this? Let us know in the comments below!