Protecting places of worship

No entity or individual should be allowed to overrun places of worship due to commercial interests

With the increased pace of development in many parts of the country, builders and contractors are having a field day, rapidly constructing offices and commercial plazas, often to the detriment of our environment and cultural heritage. Indeed, with there being plenty of potential for industrial and economic growth in the country, there have been greater demands for office spaces and shopping malls. However, in the race to build the tallest high-rises, we often display a disturbing lack of concern for the historical sites and precious, centuries-old structures that sometimes end up being destroyed as a result. As reported in this paper recently, members of the Hindu community experienced some relief following a court issuing a stay order for the demolition of the temple of Sheranwali Mata in Havelian near Abbottabad, after a retired employee of the revenue department had attempted to build a commercial plaza on the Rs22 million property. It must be acknowledged that no entity or individual should be allowed to overrun places of worship and our cultural heritage due to commercial interests.

Respect for places of worship for all religions needs to be taught to and practised by many among our ranks. In a land torn apart by actions of terrorists and where hatred and bigotry run rampant, this is something of utmost importance. The authorities can send out the right message by providing financial support for the upkeep and renovation of these historical treasures. There are other temples in Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra that are either worn down or have been converted into business centres. Places of worship of various faiths are not only important for the followers of those faiths, they are also valuable to all citizens as they have centuries-old secrets and magical tales to tell, reminding us of the rich histories of our ancestors. While it is important to create incentives to foster economic activity, it is also vital that this is achieved in tandem with respecting our rich history, architecture, and the historical houses of worship our land possesses. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2015.

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