Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that his government will restore the Hindu temple which was damaged by a charged mob in Bhong village of Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district.
The premier strongly condemned the attack on a Hindu temple by the mob and said that he has asked the Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab to arrest all the culprits involved in the tragic incident and also take action against any police negligence.
The prime minister office has ordered an investigation into the vandalism of a Hindu temple as Khan announced the reconstruction of the temple. “Pakistani constitution provides freedom & protection to minorities to perform their worship freely,” said Shahbaz Gill, special assistant to the prime minister on political communication.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed also took notice of the attack after concerns were raised by Member of the National Assembly Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. The chief justice “showed grave concern over the tragic incident” and fixed a court hearing on August 6 and also directed the Punjab chief secretary and inspector general of police to appear in court with a report.
The incident took place on Wednesday when hundreds of people vandalised the Hindu temple in Bhong and blocked traffic on Sukkur-Multan Motorway. Police said the protesters stormed the Ganesh temple to protest a court decision to free an 8-year-old Hindu boy they accused of blasphemy for allegedly urinating in a local seminary.
Pakistan deployed paramilitary troops to protect the local Hindu community in the area after the temple was “partially damaged.”
