New Delhi: The Pakistani authorities handed over the Ganesh temple to the Hindu community in Pakistan’s Punjab province after the repair work. A government official said on Monday that authorities had also arrested 50 suspects from the mob. District administrator Khurram Shahzad said that local Hindus may visit the temple soon.
Hundreds of people attacked a Hindu temple in Bhong town of Rahim Yar Khan district, about 590 km from Lahore, in reaction to the court’s release of an 8-year-old boy for allegedly desecrating a Muslim madrassa.
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Pakistan’s law enforcement has arrested over 50 people and booked over 150 people for attacking the temple. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had reprimanded the authorities for failing to protect the temple.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Friday said the incident was shameful for the country as the police remained mute spectators. Expressing surprise over the arrest of an eight-year-old, the Chief Justice had asked the police whether they were unable to understand the thinking of an eight-year-old. On the same day, Pakistan’s parliament passed a resolution condemning the attack.
“The government has completed the restoration work of the temple and handed it over to the local Hindu community,” Asad Sarfaraz, District Police Officer of Rahim Yar Khan told PTI on Monday. He said that it is also ready for worship.
An official said the government has engaged workers from Hyderabad to make the idol for the temple, according to PTI.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned till August 13.
On Thursday, India summoned the in-charge of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the incident and the freedom of the minority community in Pakistan. India opposed the increasing attacks on religious places.
Hindus are the largest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, there are 7.5 million Hindus living in Pakistan. However, there are more than 9 million Hindus living in the country according to the community. Most of Pakistan’s Hindu population is settled in Sindh province, where they share culture, tradition and language with Muslim citizens.
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