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June 13, 2006

ISLAMABAD: The only Hindu temple in the Pakistani city of Lahore has been demolished to pave the way for construction of a multi-storied commercial building.

The temple was recently demolished after officials of the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB), the government body maintaining properties of minorities, specially Hindus and Sikhs, reportedly concealed facts from the board chairman about the nature of the building, daily 'Dawn' reported on Tuesday.

A private developer was allowed to demolish 'Krishna Mandir' at Wachhoowali, Rang Mahal and raise a commercial building in its place in violation of the EPTB's own scheme for management and disposal of urban evacuee trust properties, it said.

Quoting documents, the paper said board officials did not mention that the property being given to an influential jeweller of the area, was a Hindu temple.

Had the officials indicated in the correspondence with the chairman that the property was a Hindu temple, he might have rejected the request for its transfer to the jeweller-developer for the construction of a four-storey commercial building, an EPTB official was quoted as saying.

The demolition was objected to by several opposition members of the National Assembly like Pakistan Peoples Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-N, who reportedly moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with neighbouring countries.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1643844.cms

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