IHC to hear temple case today

CDA says construction halted

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will today (Monday) hear a case on the construction of a temple in Sector H-9 of Islamabad.

A single-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq, is likely to hear arguments from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other respondents.

In a petition filed by Chaudhry Tanveer Akhtar, he had pleaded with the court to stop the construction of the new temple in Sector H-9. He had contended that a Hindu worship site already exists in the federal capital, in the historic Saidpur village and that the government should instead renovate that temple instead of building a new one.

Meanwhile, the CDA on Sunday said that construction on the new temple had been halted. When contacted, a CDA official confirmed the development.

“CDA stopped the construction work [on the temple] due to non-approval of the building plan,” the official said.

Protest

Meanwhile, members of the Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday staged a peaceful protest in Rawalpindi over the construction of the temple in Islamabad.

Scores of protesters gathered near Liaquat Bagh on Murree Road, holding placards inscribed with slogans. 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2020.