KP government’s spokesperson Kamran Bangash says the government will rebuild and restore the Hindu temple. Bangash emphasized that those who were involved will be punished and rights of minorities will be protected at any cost.
He added that PM Imran Khan and provincial chief executive had condemned the incident. He said the Karak DPO and deputy commissioner have been directed to investigate the matter and submit a report.
“No one is allowed to desecrate the sanctities of believers of any religion”
Confirming the arrests, chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council Tahir Ashrafi emphasized that it was the State’s responsibility to protect the rights of Minorities living in the country.
“Pakistan’s ulema cannot support any such form of terrorism,” he said, adding that no one is allowed to vandalize the sanctities of believers of any religion.
Over 31 people were arrested on Thursday over defacement charges and 350 nominated in an FIR registered after protesters set on fire a Hindu temple over its expansion in the Teri area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak.
The Karak DPO gave an updates on the investigation. He said raids are being conducted to arrest the rest of the culprits.
DPO Karak Irfanullah confirmed that JUI-F district leader Maulana Mirza Aqeem has also been nominated in the FIR.
A day earlier, an angry mob attacked and set the shrine of a Hindu saint on fire in Karak. Video clips going viral on social media show hordes of people breaking and desecrating the site while chanting slogans. Smoke could also be seen emitting from the shrine after it was set on fire.
CJP takes ‘suo-motu’ notice of mob attack on Hindu temple
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed will hear a ‘suo-motu’ case on the destruction of a Hindu temple in Karak on January 5 of 2021.
The CJP, while issuing the notice, also directed the chairman of the minority rights commission, inspector-general IG of police and chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to submit a report on the incident by January 4, 2021.
Separately, the CJP also met chief of Pakistan Hindu Council patron Dr Ramesh Kumar.
The CJP had condemned the incident in the meeting with Kumar.
During the meeting, Kumar informed the CJP on the burning of the shrine of a Hindu saint by an angry mob in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.