Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Monday inaugurated the rebuilt Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj temple in Karak and celebrated the Diwali festival to express solidarity with the Hindu community.
The temple was demolished completely in December last year after a charged mob led by a local cleric attacked the temple.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the chief justice said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has always taken steps to protect the minorities in Pakistan and their rights, adding that the court would continue to do so in the future. He highlighted that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the same rights to the Hindu community living in Pakistan as people of other religions.
Justice Gulzar further stated that the Supreme Court of Pakistan guarantees religious freedom to minorities living in Pakistan. He stressed that no one has the right to harm anyone’s religious place, adding that it is his duty under the Constitution to protect minorities.
Speaking on the occasion, Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Hindu Council and PTI leader Dr. Ramesh Kumar thanked the chief justice for taking timely notice of the Karak incident. It is the responsibility of the Evacuee Property Trust Board to carry out maintenance of temples, he added.
Kumar further said that the reopening of the four other historic temples in Pakistan can allow thousands of Hindus able to visit them. This would ultimately improve the image of the country in the world. He also announced holding a conference to dispel a negative impression built against the minorities.
Minorities in the country, he added, are completely free to practice their basic rights, including receiving education and religious freedom.
The PTI leader urged all segments of the society to work together to prevent incidents that could harm the country’s reputation.
Earlier, the community welcomed the chief justice at the venue and presented him a turban as well as a Digital Quran and other gifts. He was also briefed about Diwali and the history of the temple.