Demolition of temple angers Pak Hindus
A century-old temple here was hurriedly demolished by a builder despite a Pakistani court hearing a petition seeking a stay on such a move, triggering protests by the minority Hindu community on Sunday.
Besides razing the pre-Partition Shri Rama Pir Mandir in Karachi’s Soldier Bazar, the builder demolished several houses near it on Saturday.
Nearly 40 people, a majority of them Hindus, became homeless as a result, The Express
Tribune reported.
Following the demolition, the Pakistan Hindu Council organised a protest outside the Karachi Press Club. The Sindh High Court is hearing a petition seeking a stay on any move to demolish Shri Rama Pir Mandir. “They destroyed our ‘mandir’ and humiliated our gods,” an angry man named Prakash was quoted as saying.
A woman named Banwri said the demolition team arrived at around 11 am while she was preparing breakfast. She rushed outside when she heard the sound of a bulldozer and was given instructions to move her bed, cupboard and other essential items outside her home. “I watched my house go down in just minutes and I couldn’t do anything,” she said.
The area was cordoned off by police and Pakistan Rangers during the demolition.
