Tag: Hindu temple

  • Sindh announces bus service for Hindu pilgrimage 

    Sindh announces bus service for Hindu pilgrimage 

    Sindh Minority Affairs Department, under the direction of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has announced a bus service to facilitate Pakistani Hindus who cannot afford the travel expenses of the pilgrimage to Shri Hinglaj Mata.

    This was announced by Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs Giyan Chand Esrani at Swami Narayan Mandir while inaugurating the construction work of the development scheme for Guru Nanak Durbar in Karachi.

    Hinglaj Yatra is the pilgrimage to the cave temple of Hindu Devi – Shri Hinglaj Mata – on the Makran coast in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. More than 250,000 people take part in the Hinglaj Yathra every year. 

    Sindh Minority Affairs Department stated that the bus service will begin on July 15. Gyan Chand Esrani said that lunch will be provided to the pilgrims during the journey, while those pilgrims who want to stay there for a couple of days during the pilgrimage will be provided with resting facilities by the department.

    He said that the application for the pilgrimage would be sent to the Director of Minority Affairs through District Panchayat. He also announced the construction of a hostel for poor girl students at Swami Narayan Mandir.

    Hinglaj Mata is one of the three Shakti Peethas in Pakistan, the other two being Shivaharkaray and Sharada Peeth. Over the last three decades, the place has gained popularity and become a unifying point for Pakistan’s Hindu community.

    The temple Shri Hinglaj Mata is in a small natural cave, in a narrow gorge in the hilly area of Lyari Tehsil in Balochistan. It lies within the domain of the Hingol National Park, lying on the west bank of the Hingol River.

  • [VIDEO] Muslim man builds Hindu Temple in India

    [VIDEO] Muslim man builds Hindu Temple in India

    A Muslim businessman, Mohammad Naushad Sheikh, constructed a Hindu temple to promote communal harmony in the district of Jharkhand, an Indian state.

    The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Krishna. He spent his own money of over Rs. 60 lakh (Pakistani rupees) on the construction.

    On Sunday, while speaking to the Indian news agency, ANI, he said, “I had a dream in 2019 to establish this temple. Today this temple has been completed.”

    Hindu ritual, Jalabhishek (offering of water) to Lord Krishna was held in the temple on February 14.

    He further added that this temple is the symbol of unity.

    “I have nothing to do with politics and cast. I would like to give the message of unity and oneness of God, to Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian,” he added.

  • Court sentences Hindu teacher to life in prison over ‘blasphemy’ charges

    Court sentences Hindu teacher to life in prison over ‘blasphemy’ charges

    A session court sentenced a Hindu teacher, Nautan Lal, to life imprisonment over charges of ‘blasphemy’ in Ghotki, a district in Sindh. He was fined Rs50,000 as well, reports SAMAA News.

    The verdict was announced by the additional session judge, Mumtaz Ali Solangi today. The court took two years to convict Nautan Lal who has been in jail since 2019 as an undertrial prisoner.

    According to the verdict, he is charged with Section 265-H of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

    A case was also registered against Lal under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). He was accused of passing derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H

    He was sent back to Central jail in Sukkur. His requests for bail have been rejected twice for the past two years.

    In September 2019, a video was circulated across social media in which an intermediate student claimed that the owner of Ghotki’s Sindh Public Higher Secondary School committed blasphemy.

    Member of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Mufti Adul Karim Sayeedi registered a blasphemy case against the school owner.

    However, teachers clarified that the Nautan Lal did not teach at the school but he just visited on that day. He used to teach Physics at Government Degree College Ghotki.

    A protest erupted in the town and a violent mob attacked the Hindu Temple in Ghotki and damaged its idols.

  • ‘Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples’: JUI-F’s Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor

    ‘Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples’: JUI-F’s Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s (JUI-F) secretary-general Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, during a press briefing, incited people to demolish Hindu temples.

    Ghafoor was explaining his interpretation of what Riasat-e-Madina looks like and said, “The main idea of Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples, destroy idols and build mosques.”

    “These people are making temples and idols,” said Ghafoor, adding, “When Babri Masjid was unlawfully desecrated, a lot of criticism was lamented on India. Protests took place against the attack. The ones who did this are kafir [non-believers].”

    “Today in Pakistan, one respected judge, whom I feel ashamed calling chief justice, he too should feel ashamed. On whose directives did he pass the order?” remarked Ghafoor.

    “For 40 years the court and chief justice were blind. Karachi is his city as well. He is an extremist,” added Ghafoor.

    “I would like to take names, the government minister Fawad Chaudhry when he won the election gave a statement that JUI-F is an extremist party. I [Ghafoor] want to put a mirror in front of him [Fawad], I want to tell him, his leadership and [prime minister] Imran Khan when you staged a dharna in Islamabad, you addressed the parliament from D-chowk and cursed the people sitting in the parliament, you cursed the parliament and army, and you didn’t stop here,” lamented the JUI-F leader.

    Ghafoor further criticising the government said, “Sheikh Rasheed who fits into every boot is the interior minister and this is such cruelty. We too came out from Karachi and held a march no one complained about us, their protest was a drama, we had a million people, and no one complained about us. My tehreek [movement] is in front of the country and so is their’s. My extremism and equality are in front of the people and your character is in front of the country as well.”

    “The country has to decide who is a terrorist the [government] or myself,” said Ghafoor.

  • Man vandalised Hindu temple, charged with blasphemy

    On Monday, a man named Waleed Muhammad Shabeer, who allegedly damaged idols of a Hindu temple in the old area of Narainpura, was booked under Blasphemy Law by the police. Another attacker escaped from the scene. He is booked under section 427 (mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 295 of the PPC that deals with blasphemy.

    According to the first information report (FIR), the incident took place at 6:15 pm.

    The complainant and a resident of the area, Mukesh Kumar, said that his wife saw the assailant attacking the idols with a hammer.

    The suspect was surrounded by the people living in the area. The residents handed him over to the police. The residents also protested in the area and in front of the police station.

    They demanded security from the government after the incident took place and chanted slogans against the attackers.

    Narainpur is an old town where Hindu families are predominately living with Muslims.

    Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs, Gyanchand Israni, instructed the police to arrest all accused and said that such incidents would bring unrest in society. “We condemn such attacks,” he said.

    The motive behind the attack is not determined yet. Police have started an investigation and assured the protection for residents of the area.

    The video of broken holy idols was circulating on social media.

    Various activists and politicians condemned the vandalism and requested the government to capture all people included in the attack.

  • Pakistan celebrates National Minority Day

    Pakistan celebrates National Minority Day

    Pakistan celebrates National Minority Day today, remembering the contribution of minorities in the progress of Pakistan.

    August 11 marks the day to reaffirm our founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision that despite belonging to different faiths, we are one nation.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted, “Let Quaid e Azam’s historic speech of August 11 1947 resonate & let us unite to honour spirit & sanctity of his words. Celebrating the white in our flag.”

    Qureshi also shared a video message.

    Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted that August 11 is a reaffirmation of the vision of Quaid-e-Azam.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “Reopening of the mandir in Rahim Yar Khan on August 11 signifies the importance government attaches to rights of minorities, respect for religious beliefs is our core policy.”

    “We will ensure all citizens enjoy life and liberty as per Constitution of Pakistan mandate,” tweeted Fawad.

    A Hindu temple in Bhong town was recently vandalised by a mob, but is has been completely restored to its original structure and handed over back to the members of the minority community.

  • Temple attacked by mob restored and handed over to the Hindu Community in five days

    Temple attacked by mob restored and handed over to the Hindu Community in five days

     The Hindu temple in Bhong town that was vandalised by a mob has been completely restored to its original shape and handed over back to the minority community, reported Dawn.

    Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Khuram Shehzad said that for the security of the temple, a boundary wall was also being constructed around it.

    He said the work on the restoration of the idols (Moorti) damaged during the attack on the temple would be completed soon.

    DC said that all the expenses required for the restoration of the temple would be recovered from the rioters involved in the attack.

    Shehzad added that it would take two months to complete the work on the restoration of the idols in the temple.

    He said the Hindu community would start performing religious rites at the temple after the restoration of the idols.

  • Hindu temple attack: CJP reprimands authorities over no arrests

    Hindu temple attack: CJP reprimands authorities over no arrests

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed rebuked the Punjab Police chief for failing to take action to protect the Hindu temple from a mob in Rahim Yar Khan. The CJP directed him to arrest all culprits involved in the incident.

    Justice Gulzar had shown concern over the tragic incident and summoned Chief Secretary Punjab and IG Punjab to appear at the apex court and submit a report on the incident.

    During the hearing today, the CJP expressed anger over the incident and criticised the officials. “Three days have passed, but no one has been arrested.”

    He said the police acted as a silent spectator while the mob vandalised the temple. “What were the police and administration doing?” the CJP questioned.

     IGP Inam Ghani informed the court that terrorism clauses have been added in the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against the mob.

    CJP added, “If the deputy commissioner and the DPO cannot perform their duties, they should be fired.”

    Justice Amin said police have failed to perform their duty.

    “Had there been professional officers in the force, the issue would have been solved by now.”

    “Think, how would Muslims have reacted if a mosque was attacked,” CJP Gulzar remarked, adding that one should think about how the incident would impact Pakistani Hindus.

    The Supreme Court ordered the officials to submit a report on the next hearing on August 13.

    On Wednesday, hundreds of people reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple in Bhong town and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) after a nine-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary.

  • Hindu temple vandalised in Rahim Yar Khan

    Hindu temple vandalised in Rahim Yar Khan

    A video clip of a mob attacking a Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) is doing the rounds on social media. People are urging Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action against the mob.

    Hundreds of people reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple in Bhong town and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) after a nine-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary, was granted bail by a local court on Wednesday.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said in a tweet that the PM Office had taken notice of the sad and unfortunate incident.

    He said that the prime minister had directed the district administration to probe the matter and take strict action against the culprits.

    Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has also taken notice of the attack on the Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan and has set a hearing in relevance to the matter tomorrow.

    Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, “The act was a violation of the Constitution and the basic human rights of Pakistanis. Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) is in touch with RYK police since yesterday to ensure action against perpetrators – got a report – following up – our Parl Secy going to visit today.”

    There are reports of some old monetary dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups in the area, which was stated to be the actual cause of the unrest.

    A small town close to the River Indus and Sindh-Punjab border, Bhong houses a number of gold traders who originally hail from Ghotki and Dehrki (Sindh).

  • 600-year-old statues discovered in Thar

    Statues dating back almost 600 years were recovered during a recent campaign in Thar while restoring a heritage site in the area.

    According to a report in Dawn News, volunteers of the Endowment Fund for Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh found the statutes while restoring a temple in the desert district.

    “Statues were unearthed during restoration works at the Nagarparkar City Temple by Endowment Fund for Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh,” read a brief announcement by the organisation. “The temple will shortly be handed over to the Culture Department, Government of Sindh, along with the statues of (sandstone and marble) Mahavira and other Tirthankaras of Jainism.”

    Read more – 1,300-year-old Hindu temple discovered in KP

    Hameed Akhund of the Endowment Fund for Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh said that the statues were likely to have been discovered long ago.

    “We think when the war began in 1971 between India and Pakistan, someone dumped them in a cave-like space where we were doing our project. We found them in the same place,” said Akhund, adding that they will be handed over to the Sindh government.