Pakistan Hindus want their temples reconstructed

Islamabad, Dec 8: Pakistan's Hindu community has demanded reconstruction of more than 1,000 temples across the country, which were allegedly demolished by violent Muslim mobs 14 years ago in protest against the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India.

The demand came as Muslims in India commemorated the day Babri mosque was demolished as a ''day of resistance'' and demanded the Indian government reconstruct the mosque and take action against those responsible for the incident.

Daily Times quoted office bearers of the All Pakistan Balmik Sabha (APBS), a major Hindu organisation in the country, as saying that no religion in the world permitted violence.

JJ Vishnu Mangay Ram, former advocate general of the Sindh High Court and chairman of the APBS, said the Babri mosque demolition had affected humanity on both sides of the border.

He demanded the government fulfil its promise and reconstruct the places of worship of the minority Hindus.

APBS Balochistan President Atnay Ram Chohan said more than 1,000 Hindu temples had been damaged in Pakistan following the Babri Mosque incident and the government had assured the Hindu community that their places of worship would be restored, but that promise has yet to be fulfilled.

APBS Punjab General Secretary Dr Munohar Chand said that though the government had started reconstructing several temples in Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Kohat, Bahawalpur and Lahore, the pace of work was slow and must be completed on priority to promote religious harmony in the country.

He added that several temples in Lahore including Jain Mandir, Krishna Mandir, Balmik Mandir in Nila Gumbad, Balmik Mandir and Bawa Mandir in Taxali Gate and Shah Alam Mandir had been damaged in the violent protests in 1992, but the government had only reconstructed the Krishna Mandir on Ravi Road.

He added that the government had reconstructed the Krishna Mandir structure, but ignored the traditional worship symbols.

UNI