Attack on Terri Temple is violation of Supreme Court judgement: Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani

Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, while showing extreme anger on the attack against Terri Temple and

Samadhi (Tomb) located at District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has called a protest demonstration outside Supreme Court Karachi Registry on Thursday, December 31, 2020. Talking to media, he told that Terri Temple was demolished by Malauna Sharif led mob, associated with Maulana Sami ul Haq group, in 1997. He emphasized that affected Terri Temple is one of four largest holy sites for Hindu community in Pakistan.

“This temple was restored as a result of 19th June 2014 judgement by the Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, honorable Tassadaq Hussain Jillani, ” he told, adding that the temple was restored during the tenure of honorable Chief Justice Jawad S Khawaja.

“Maulana Sharif led elements were not serious to solve the issue but they had to accept the Supreme Court decision,” Dr Ramesh, who is also a prominent parliamentarian, stated. He further said that few days back on 27 December, the local extremist elements gathered in a meeting to finalize the plan of attack.

“I have received information through some reliable sources that extremists are planning to attack on temple on 30th December,” Dr Ramesh told the media. On 28 December, we approached to the Deputy Commissioner Karak. Dr Ramesh, who is also active member of One Man Commission constituted by the Supreme Court, stated.

The DC Karak informed that he already received such information from intelligence, so proper arrangements for necessary action is already in process. Dr Ramesh claimed that the DC assured that nobody would be allowed to damage the temple. According to him, DC and DPO both are on board in this regard.

Unfortunately, the ground realities are entirely different as on 30th December, Maulana Sharif successfully implemented his plan to attack on the said temple. Dr Ramesh regretted that nobody from police and law enforcement agencies was there to protect the holy site. “The temple is reportedly demolished and Samadhi was put under fire,” Dr Ramesh stated.

“Being Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council , this is my demand to arrest Maulana Sharif and all culprits, and book them under the Blasphemy laws (295C),q” Dr Ramesh Kumar demanded. Otherwise I am facing too much pressure from my community to call a protest demonstration outside Supreme Court, Karachi Registry because this temple was restored by the Supreme Court. So, we want to bring this criminal act and violation of SC orders into notice of Supreme Court. He further warned.

Provincial KPK government, which was already reluctant in past to restore the temple, is once again failed to control the situation despite receiving intelligence report on time. He regretted.

Dr Ramesh was of the view that on international level, Pakistan is already facing pressure in terms of religious freedom and minorities’ rights, therefore such acts of extremism must be curbed at any cost. He said that it is democratic right of patriotic Hindu community across the country to record peaceful protest against this injustice.