After Pak PM, Pak SC also takes cognizance of attack on Hindu temple

Pakistan Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the attack on the Hindu Temple in Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had condemned the attack and had ordered the Inspector General of Police, Punjab to arrest the culprits.

Khan had also announced that the damages to the temple would be repaired at government cost.

The Supreme Court came down heavily on the police and Pakistan Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioned what the administration was doing when the temple was attacked.  

The court will look into the legal aspects of the matter on August 13.

According to reports, trouble started after a nine-year-old Hindu boy was released on bail, after he was arrested for urinating in a local seminary. Following this a mob armed with sticks, stones and bricks attacked a Hindu temple in Bhong village in Rahim Yar Khan of Punjab province and damaged idols of Hindu gods.

Till now 20 persons have been arrested and another 150 booked on charges of taking part in the attack on the temple.

The “ransacking of the temple” has been condemned by Pakistan’s Parliament, which also passed a unanimous resolution condemning the incident. The Pakistan National Assembly assured the Hindu community and Pakistan Hindu Council of their safety.

The resolution passed by the National Assembly reads, "The Constitution of Pakistan provides complete protection to the rights of minorities and this House also affirms that the rights of minorities and their places of worship will be fully protected. The whole nation and government are united on this point.”

Meanwhile, India had summoned the Pakistani charge d'affaires in New Delhi on Thursday to lodge a firm protest, expressing grave concerns “at the reprehensible incident and the continued attacks on the freedom of religion of the minority communities and their places of religious worship in Pakistan.”