Hindu temple demolished: Zardari demands report on Mandir
According to presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, the President expressed concern over the incident and directed the authorities to ensure no community was discriminated against in any manner.
President Zardari reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguard the rights of minorities in the country, a press release quoted him as stated.
Background
The houses in Soldier Bazaar which were demolished on Saturday used to be spaces where 40 people built their lives and nurtured their children. Now, they are nothing more than debris which the homeless will use as pillows as they sleep under the open sky.
Around three or four houses and a century-old temple, the Shri Rama Pir Mandir, were demolished by a private builder. The swift operation seemed to have emerged out of the blue and caught the residents unawares.
“We are protesting against the injustice by staying out on the streets. We won’t leave or move in with our relatives,” said Kaali Das, an elder of the community. “We will sit on the road till our temples and houses are rebuilt.”
Read the full story: Soldier Bazaar demolition: The homeless will brave cold nights and put up a fight
A video report on the incident can be viewed here.
COMMENTS (22)
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President action is not timely. local administration should informe high-ups of provincial and federal government before abolishing the houses of minorities and their mandir.
Matter was sensitive but hurriedly done the same was not favourable to internal pecae that was already fragile.
Religous violence, has taken a start,it is dire need of the time to overcome on it, by showing unique efficiency. If Indian hindu come into action as revenge there would be chances of count down in the bilateral relations between the two nuclear armed neighours.
They has taken action and demolished Mandir, now there are chances of reaction in India.
Report in reaching the concerned quarters,would take considerable time and in the meanwhile huge loss is expected.
President Zardari reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguard the rights of minorities in the country, a press release quoted him as stated.
Houses has been demolished,with century old Mandir,Minority people has come out and compelled passing through sever coolest night under the open sky.It
due to winter season,there are chances of children's deaths,effecties are screaming,they are now homeless,eyes are tearful.There is no remody available .
Demolishing action has completed. Now president is talking about rights of minorities.It is a timely interence??
A county that fails to protect the right of worship and practice its religion is doomed to failure and disintegration. A limping, fragmented and bankrupt Pakistan is considered a pariah and failed nation by the civilized world.
@VINOD:
You are right, Vinod. You see the nature of the beastly savage. Pakistan has become a classic example of barbarism towards its religious minorities. Pakis talk about the "great injustice" and "sufferings" of Muslims elsewhere, yet they not only fail to protect the places of worship of their minority citizens but even encourage their destruction. The country can NEVER succeed, because history teaches us that no nation can succeed if it persecutes its minorities. And by the way what right do Pakis have to point finger at India for the Babri Musji 13 years after Hindus merely reclaimed what was a temple? What right indeed do they have to talk about the "bad treatment" of the Rohingyas in Myanmar? Do Pakis treat their minorities with respect, dignity and tolerance? I am sure your hate-mongering and barbaric mullahs are gloating with joy over what their mob of thugs and real-estate developers have done to the temple. The UN Council for Human Rights has rightly described Pakistan as a country that has an official persecution policy of minorities. It's hypocritical of President Zardari to shed some crocodile tears and express "deep concern" over the destruction of the temple. But this episode will further add to Pakistan's sordid history of destroying places of worship of the minorities. Imagine if someone had done the same thing to a mosque anywhere else in the world! I am sure flags would be burning, mobs would be going on a beheading spree of innocent men, women and children, and generally breathing death and destruction. Shame, you stone-age people!
Why Indians should keep relations with Pakistan?
@TightPatloon: You have no audacity to say shame on Pakistan when you own country is culprit. Remember Babri Mosque
What happened is wrong and is condemn able. However control your god damn outbursts
May Allah's curse be on this Govt. who is unable to provide protection to minorities and on those who attack innocent people.
No one is safe in Pakistan. Neither Muslims nor other minorities and as for the religious places no one has got any right to destroy the Holy places. And we all know what is happening in Pakistan and why is it happening.
@Much Amused: The flag is sadly designed to have the pole going only through the white portion.
One Babri Masjid demolition and entire India is to date resounding with its after effects.
what about lala MASJID
never ever have i heard of a country's president making "demands" after failing to protect his people.
The Pakistani flag should have been totally green indicating all creeds to be Pakistani with equal rights. Instead, you have a white band in the flag which marginalised non-muslim creeds right from the inception. That is why minorities are treated as third class citizens, with their rights being trampelled at will by all and sundry. Shame on the majority.
Lot of firefighting but not enough fire prevention.
Shame on Pakistan..shame shame...never now boast to the world that minorities are treated well in Pakistan
another feather in the cap of the land of pure
"Tolerance"......at its worst/////