14 arrested for vandalizing Hindu Shrine in KP

Lahore, 31st  December: A mob vandalised the samadhi (shrine) of a Hindu saint and subsequently set it on fire in the Karak district of KP on Wednesday, confirmed by locals and police officials.

Baaghi TV: According to latest reports, police have arrested 14 people in overnight raids, officials said on Thursday.

As per news from The Dawn, local police said they had detained at least 14 people in overnight raids and more raids were underway to arrest individuals who participated or provoked the mob to demolish the shrine.

The attack happened after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate the building. According to witnesses, the mob was led by a local cleric and supporters of a religious political party.

Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri termed the attack a conspiracy against sectarian harmony.

خیبر پختونخواہ ضلع کرک میں مندر کو نقصان پہنچانے کی کوشش پاکستان کے مذھبی ھم اھنگی کے خلاف سازش اور ناقابل برداشت ھے ! اس طرح کے رویے دین اسلام کی حقیقی تعلیمات کے خلاف ھیں ۔اقلیتوں کی مذھبی آزادی کا تحفظ ھماری دینی، آئینی ، اخلاقی اور قومی ذمہ داری ھے

— pir noorulhaq qadri (@NoorulhaqPir) December 31, 2020

He took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote, “Attacks on places of worship of minority religious groups are not allowed in Islam and protection of religious freedom of minorities is our religious, constitutional, moral and national responsibility.”

The incident comes weeks after the government allowed Hindu citizens to build a new temple in Islamabad on the recommendation of a council of clerics.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has issued orders to fix the matter by hearing on Jan 5, 2021.

According to a statement released by the apex court, Member of the National Assembly and Pakistan Hindu Council chief Ramesh Kumar, “The chief justice of Pakistan showed grave concern over the tragic incident and informed the member of parliament that he has already taken cognisance of the issue and has fixed the matter before court on 05.01.2021 at Islamabad with directions to one-man Commission on Minorities Rights, KP chief secretary and KP inspector general of police to visit the site and submit [a] report on 04.01.2021.”

Read the previous story here: Hindu Shrine gets burned down in KP’s Karak

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