Pakistan: Commission submits report to SC which depicts dismal picture of major Hindu sites

The report submitted to the apex court on February 5 regrets that the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has failed to maintain most of the ancient and holy sites of the minority community, reports Dawn News.

Ahead of the report submission, the commission had visited Katas Raj Mandir in Chakwal on Jan 6 and Prahlad Mandir in Multan on Jan 7.

The report presents a general picture of decay and obliteration of two of the four most revered evacuee sites in Pakistan and their photographs have been attached to the report, Dawn News reported.

The report has suggested collaborative efforts in the renovation of Teri Mandir (Karak), Katas Raj Temples (Chakwal), Prahlad Mandir (Multan) and Hinglaj Mandir (Lasbela). It suggested an amendment to the ETPB Act to establish a working group for rehabilitation of the holy sites belonging to Hindus and Sikhs, the newspaper reported.

The report has said the Supreme Court had in its order of January 5 directed the ETPB “to submit a detailed report of all temples, Gurdawaras and other religious sites all over Pakistan which come under the purview of ETPB”, the newspaper reported.

The commission app­roached the ETPB on January 12 to get the requisite information within a week’s time so that the comments may be submitted to the Supreme Court before the next hearing date. A reminder was issued on January 21, but no response was received, Dawn News reported.