After local media reported that a more than 150-year-old Hindu temple was demolished in Karachi’s Soldier Bazar area, the port city’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, denied the reports.
Sharing two pictures of the temple – a Hindu temple – for worship on his official Twitter handle, the Karachi mayor wrote: “Checked. No such demolition of the temple [and] the temple is still intact.”
The old Mari Mata temple in the Soldier Bazaar area of the port city was demolished in an undercover operation on Friday night, local media reported on Sunday, adding that residents of the area reported seeing a police mobile there. has gone to provide ‘cover’ to the men working there. Machines
Wahab, however, dismissed the report, writing: “The administration has intervened [and] the Hindu Panchayat has been asked to help the police to find out the real facts. Everyone will be posted on it.” “
Have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place & Mandir is still intact. Administration has intervened & Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts. Will keep everyone posted on this. PPP stands with people of all communities https://t.co/dUKauDtWuZ pic.twitter.com/xu9mN5hbin
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) July 16, 2023
He also affirmed that his party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), “stands with people of all communities”.
However, attacks on Hindu temples are a bitter reality in Pakistan.
A gang of dacoits fired mortar shells at Gulshan Dera Baba Sanwal Shah, a temple belonging to the Bagharji minority community near Ghoshpur in Kashmore district, The News reported on Monday.
A portion of the compound wall was damaged due to the attack. However, the mortars did not explode.
The dacoits also opened fire at the houses of Ram Das Baganu Das, Rewari Kumar and others.
Kashmore Kandhkot SSP Irfan Samu reached the spot and took a briefing about the attack.
Bhagwan Das and others stated that there was an annual gathering of the community at Dera Baba Sanwal Shah. He told the SSP that his gathering was the target of the attack.
He further said that mortar fire and firing scared people and women and children ran away from the temple.
Reacting to the news, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the incident on its official Twitter handle.
HRCP tweeted, “HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order situation in Sindh’s Kashmore and Ghotki districts, where around 30 members of the Hindu community – including women and children – have been allegedly killed by organized crime.” The professions are held hostage.”
HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community – including women and children – have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 16, 2023
“Furthermore, we have received disturbing reports that these groups have threatened to attack the community’s places of worship using advanced weapons.”
“The Sindh Home Department should immediately investigate the matter and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas,” HRCP stressed in its tweet.
