After the removal of unlawful inhabitants, a Hindu temple in Pakistan will be repaired
After the removal of unlawful inhabitants, a Hindu temple in Pakistan will be repaired
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A 1,200-year-old Hindu temple in Pakistan is due to be repaired after “illegal inhabitants” were evicted following a lengthy court struggle. The federal authority in charge of minority worship facilities in the country verified the situation.

Last month, the custody of the Valmiki Mandir (temple) in Lahore was reclaimed from a Christian family.

Apart from Krishna Temple, Valmiki Temple is Lahore’s sole operational temple.

For the past two decades, the Christian family, which claims to have converted to Hinduism, has only allowed Valmiki caste Hindus to worship at the temple.

Amir Hashmi, a spokeswoman for the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), stated that Valmiki Temple will be reconstructed in accordance with a “master plan” in the coming days.

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“At the Valmiki Temple today, over 100 Hindus, Sikhs, and Christian dignitaries gathered.” Hindus performed religious ceremonies and ate lungar (food) for the first time since it was retrieved from the grabbers,” he claimed.

More than two decades ago, the Christian family seized control of the temple.

According to an ETPB official, the temple’s land was transferred to the ETPB in the revenue record, but the family launched a civil court complaint in 2010-2011, claiming ownership of the site.

He claims that, in addition to going to court, the family restricted access to the temple to only Valmiki Hindus. As a result, the trust was forced to dispute the issue in court.

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“The court also admonished the petitioner for making misleading accusations this time,” the spokesman added.

The temple was dismantled and set on fire. The shops in the area also caught fire, and it took the authorities days to extinguish the flames.

According to the ETPB spokesman, a one-man panel appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan offered its recommendations to the government, indicating that the temple should be restored to provide better workshop facilities to the Hindu community.

However, due to the litigation, the ETPB was unable to begin restoration work on the temple, which was built on over 10 marlas of land worth millions in the heart of the city, according to the spokeswoman.

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The ETPB is responsible for the temples and land left behind by Sikhs and Hindus who moved to India following the partition. It is in charge of 200 gurdwaras and 150 temples in Pakistan.