Pak files blasphemy case against Hindu temple attackers

A group of men who attacked homes and a temple of Hindus during a recent protest in Karachi against an anti-Islam film has been charged under Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy law.

Nine men, including Maulvi Habibur Rehman and his accomplices, have been named in the police complaint regarding the ransacking of the Sri Krishna Bhagwan Mandir in Gulshan-e-Maymar area of Karachi.

The temple was vandalised during government-sanctioned protests against the film “Innocence Of Muslims” on September 21. Police said that Section 295 A — a lesser known, non Islam-specific clause of the country’s notorious blasphemy law, was used to register a case against some men who had damaged the temple.

The section 295 A of Pakistan Penal Code covers “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs”.
The nine people named in the case from the nearby residential areas, had also ransacked some houses and looted jewellery and valuables.

“The case has been registered because the law is the same for everyone no matter which religion or creed he belongs to,” the station house officer of Gulshan-e-Maymar police station, Jaffer Baloch said.

He said discretion and damage to the temple was clearly a case of blasphemy. The accused were also charged with looting, vandalism and theft.

Earlier Baloch told the media: “For me, every believer is the same. The desecration of a temple meant blasphemy to me and that’s why we inserted that section.” However, no one has been arrested so far by police because the accused are on the run. Authorities have also beefed up security for the Hindus living in Gulshan-e-Maymar. “We are not Americans. We have no link with them. Why were we attacked?” said a local resident.
“We are Pakistanis. We have never been to India. Let us live here,” said another resident.

Welcoming the move by the police, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Zohra Yusuf said she had never heard of a blasphemy case registered against Muslims for damaging a house of worship.

“When Ahmadi houses of worship are attacked, blasphemy sections are not inserted. Also, minorities are fearful to lodge complaints,” she said.

A senior official of the Pakistan Hindu Council said a mob had vandalised and damaged the Shri Krishna Bhagwan Mandir and also ransacked nearby houses where members of the Hindu community reside, and indulged in looting.

The Hindu Council official said in the single room temple six idols had been damaged and smashed to pieces.

Caretaker Maharaj Sunda said: “I devoted my life to serve the gods, and seeing them like this makes me wish for death”.

When the attack took place at 8:30 am, the Maharaj was tending to animals near the temple.

Sunda said some 150 people raising religious slogans and carrying rocks and sticks had stormed the temple.

He said the sculptures worth Rs 100,000 each were brought from India in 2000 when the temple was built.