KP CM announces early reconstruction of vandalised temple in Karak

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday announced reconstruction of the vandalised Hindu temple in Karak.
According to a statement, the KP chief minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure the reconstruction of Hindu temple on an early basis. He vowed to protect the worship places of minorities in all cases.
Mahmood said that several people involved in the incident have been arrested. “Strict action will be taken against those involved. No one is allowed to take the law into one’s own hands,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, a mob, reportedly led by clerics, vandalised and set a Hindu temple on fire in the Karak district of KP. The temple, though no longer functional, is considered a revered pilgrimage site by the Hindu community.
Residents in the Terri area of Karak were not happy with the handover of the temple to the Hindu community. The ongoing renovation further fuelled their anger that set off a chain of events that led to the vandalism. The mob was too big to confront for the local administration and police.
According to the police officials, the Hindu community had bought some land to extend the temple, where they were constructing a building. However, a local cleric instigated the people to attack the structure. “They attacked and demolished the under-construction building. We have registered an FIR against the clerics and the situation is under control,” police said
On Thursday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed took notice of the incident and the police began rounding up dozens of suspects, including the cleric, who had instigated the attack. The top judge also directed the ‘’One Man Commission on Minorities Rights’’, the provincial chief secretary and police chief to visit the site and submit a report regarding the incident.