Religious tolerance: Hindu community to reclaim temple

Petitioner’s lawyer argued that temple had been established before creation of Pakistan.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday allowed the Hindu community to perform religious rites in the historic temple of the city’s Gorgatri tehsil.

A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice PHC, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth allowed the petition of Phool Watti, who had challenged the handing over of the temple into government custody.

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the temple had been established before the creation of Pakistan and had been in the custody of the police till 1960. Later, it was handed over to the archeology department.

Earlier in his remarks, Chief Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan said Islam inculcates in its followers protection of worship places of minorities and security of rights for non-Muslims.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th,  2011.