Hindu temple to be rebuilt, says K-P CM

Mahmood vows to punish all those involved in demolishing Hindu pilgrimage site

PESHAWAR:

Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan on Friday announced reconstruction of the historic Hindu temple located in the southern Karak district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa which had been set ablaze by a mob instigated by a local cleric.

The provincial chief executive was called on by the Head of Minorities’ Rights Commission Head Dr Shoaib Suddle to discuss the incident that invited widespread criticism from across the world. MNA Ramesh Kumar and K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz were also present during the meeting.

CM Mahmood vowed to punish all the culprits involved in the unfortunate incident according to the law. Terming the incident highly condemnable, he highlighted that many people involved had already been arrested.

The CM reiterated that the provincial government would ensure protection of all the holy places belonging to minorities in the province and no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands by instigating hatred against other religions or religious communities.

Dr Suddle and MNA Kumar expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the provincial government so far pertaining to the incident. Adjournment motion Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Ahmad Kundi submitted an adjournment motion in the K-P Assembly, terming the Karak temple attack a very unfortunate incident which was against the basic spirit of Islam, local Pakthun culture as well as the vision of the nation’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

On the other hand, Advisor to the CM on Media and Education, Kamran Bangash said no one would be allowed to disturb the interfaith harmony in the province and emphasised how rights of minorities were ensured by the Constitution of the country. He added that the government will bear all the expenses to reconstruct the demolished temple and highlighted how the 45 accused persons in the case had been arrested including the three main culprits.

“We will make them an example for others so that no one dares to repeat such an act again,” Bangash said. “It was the duty of the locals to cooperate with police and district administration to stop such fanatics.” The CM’s advisor also claimed that the Hindu community is satisfied with the government’s efforts in dealing with the incident.KP Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz visited Karak district to inspect the vandalised temple and met local aman committee members as well as the elders of the area. He was accompanied by representatives of the Hindu community.