Hindus in Islamabad do not have a functional temple in the city, they have to travel to Rawalpindi to offer their prayers. On Pakistan’s National Minorities Day, letters will be written to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to revive an abandoned temple.
Hindus in Islamabad do not have a functional temple in the city, they have to travel to Rawalpindi to offer their prayers. On Pakistan’s National Minorities Day, letters will be written to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to revive an abandoned temple.
Hindus in Islamabad might finally get a place to pray if the campaign, kick-starting on Pakistan’s National Minorities Day, is able to revive an abandoned Hindu temple.
Pakistan celebrates National Minorities Day on August 11 to highlight the contribution and services made by the minority communities towards nation building.
Hindus in Islamabad are planning to revive a temple in Saidpur village which currently is a tourist site. Almost 850 Hindus living in the city will have a place for religious gatherings. They were earlier barred from performing religious rituals in Saidpur’s Rama Mandir which was built by Raja Mann Singh in 1580s.
The Hindu residents have to go to Rawalpindi to offer their prayers in the temple.
“The sanctity of the holy place will be restored and Hindu families living in Islamabad will finally have a place to pray,” said PTI lawmaker Lal Chand Malhi, who is leading the campaign as reported by Express Tribune .
Malhi said that letters requesting revival of the temple will be written to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain. The issue will also be addressed to to Islamabad Mayor Ansar Aziz who is the custodian of the site, on August 11.
Malhi has said that the campaign aims to force the government and its departments to allow Hindus to make the temple operational. But if no response is received, the community members, political parties and civil society will open it for prayers.
According to Capital Development Authority records, the centuries old temple had adharamshala as well but during renovation, it was converted into a public toilet.
The PTI lawmakers also said that the carvings in the walls of Lakshmi and Kali were painted over by the CDA in 2006.
Islamabad Mayor is ready to support the request once it is received. He said he will be more than happy to help Hindus living in Islamabad to get access to the temple.