Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who was heading the three-member bench, passed this direction while hearing a suo motu case regarding encroachment upon the land of the Kali Mata Mandir. On Monday, the CJ had taken notice of media reports regarding protests by the religious minority's members against a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the unlawful occupation and sale of the land of a temple.
Submitting a report, Legal AIG Ali Sher Jakhrani said that an inquiry was conducted into the matter on the directives of the court, which revealed that 1.5 acres of land had been reserved for the worship place.
The officer said the inquiry committee had visited the site and expressed its reservations on the 'vindictive activity' of a former PPP candidate for NA-219, and his associates. However, the allegations against him were not proven during the inquiry, therefore, no FIR was lodged against him.
The AIG informed that the Hindu community lives on a piece of land that is 800 metres away from the temple. This land is not reserved for the place of worship but is registered in the name of Sarfaraz Khokhar in the record of the revenue department, he added.
The inquiry recommended that the members of the community may initiate a civil litigation in the court, if they have any issues.
The applicant's lawyer, Nadeem A Shaikh, stated that some persons are attempting to usurp the lands belonging to the Hindu community to spark communal riots in the area.
Disposing of the case in view of the report, the SC bench directed the Hyderabad DIG, Sanaullah Abbasi, to ensure protection of the members of the Hindu community living in the area.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2014.
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