Temple demolished in Pakistan, committee set to investigate it

Karachi: An ancient Hanuman temple has been demolished at Lyari in Karachi Pakistan. The houses of 20 Hindu families living near the temple were also demolished by bulldozers. The incident occurred in Pakistan when the historic church in the Turkish capital of Istanbul was being converted into a mosque. There is outrage among the minority Hindus of Pakistan about it.

The police have sealed the area after protests by Hindus. The Express Tribune reported, Lyari’s Assistant Commissioner Abdul Karim Memon ordered an inquiry against the builder who demolished the temple. According to locals, ‘a builder had allegedly bought land around the temple to build a residential complex on this plot. They further added, ‘he promised us the temple will not be destroyed but he took advantage of us being quarantined’.

Deputy Commissioner of South Karachi Irshad Ahmed Sodhar told The Express Tribune, ‘earlier there were two temples,one being already removed’. He said, committee has been formed to investigate the matter. An archaeologist is also included in this inquiry committee. He said the committee will submit its report within seven days’.

Pakistan has always been an islamic state denying secular fabric. The minorities here still face acceptance problems when it comes to culture and its symbol. Destruction and conversion of minorities’ holy places is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan.