Abdul Khaliq Qureshi Abbottabad
Hindu community has filed an application in the court of District Session Judge, Manshera under section 22-A criminal procedure code requesting for registering case against ruling party minority Senator Sardar Guru Weep Singh and MPA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ravi Kumar also of PTI, who have allegedly taken possession of Shawana Temple at Ghandian, Mansehra forcibly.
The case has been filed through Zafar Iqbal advocate in which applicants Sham Lal and Sajin Lal claims that they are Citizens of Pakistan and belong to the Hindu Faith.
In the entire Hazara Division Shawala Temple/ Shive Temple is the sole place of worship wherein Hindus are performing worship from times immemorial.
Sham Lal also claims that he is the Chairman of Shive Temple Society and is responsible for looking after the Temple and it’s affairs since long.
They further claims that on the 19th of March, 2021 when he, along with his Family went to the Shive Temple, Senator Sardar Guru Weep Singh of PTI, Islamabad and MPA KPK Ravi Kumar also of PTI were present at the site and that along with the Police Constable deputed to guard the Temple, refused entry to them stating that the Temple was their Private Property and trespassed illegally.
They also uprooted the Shive Temple Society Board affixed on the site and took it along with them.
Sham Lal further claims that when they approached SHO Buffa Thana on the same day and verbally informed him of the incident, the SHO told to come back the next day.
When Sham Lal and his son returned the next day the SHO had registered a totally fabricated FIR of which he provided them the copy.
When they left the Thana under protest he called them back and forcibly retrieved the FIR copy and warned them not to go to the Temple Site on Pain of Physical Harm.
Sham Lal then launched a written complaint with DIG Hazara Range on 22nd March, 2021 and too the copy marked to the SHO Thana Buffa, Manshera and delivered it to him personally.
However, there has been No action on this Complaint, to date. Zafar Iqbal Advocate has appealed that Freedom of Religious Worship is Guaranteed under the 1971 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to every Citizen of Pakistan, and as the Respondents and their coreligionists have been prevented from performing their religious obligations by the defendants who are thus in clear violation of this fundamental right, and as such, should be proceeded against in accordance with the Law of the Land.
