Pakistan Seals 200-Year-Old Hindu Temple After Bid to Demolish It for Plaza
Officials took the nearly 200-year-old temple into custody after residents stopped demolition work for a planned commercial plaza, according to the Evacuee Trust Property Board.
- On Saturday, authorities in Pakistan sealed the historic Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following public outcry. The Evacuee Trust Property Board took the nearly 200-year-old structure into official custody to prevent demolition for a commercial plaza.
- Local residents and civil society members intervened earlier this week to stop workers from razing the site in Rahim Bazaar. Sohail Ahmed Azmi, president of the Dera Civil Society, reported that a contractor claimed authorization to demolish the building before citizens halted the work.
- Designated as cultural heritage by the ETPB, the temple is among around 400 buildings in Dera Ismail Khan. This government body manages assets left during the 1947 Partition, including various Hindu and Sikh religious sites currently under its oversight.
- Reporting Thursday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan detailed systemic violations against minorities in its report 'Sanctuary Denied: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2025/26.' The document highlighted discriminatory practices and marginalized concerns amid broader safety anxieties for religious minorities.
- Haroon Sarab Dial, chairman of the All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement, urged special protection for religious sites during the current provincial governor's rule. He also called for investigation into properties allegedly sold or occupied illegally between 2013 and 2026.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaPakistan seals 200-year-old Hindu temple after bid to demolish it for plaza
Authorities in Pakistan have secured a historic Hindu temple following protests by local residents and civil society members against its demolition. The Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan faced demolition attempts to develop a commercial plaza, leading to community intervention. Local activists and the Hindu community requested an investigation regarding the temple's ownership and construction legality.
Pakistan seals 200-year-old Ram Leela temple after demolition attempt - The Tribune
Authorities in Pakistan have sealed a nearly 200-year-old Hindu temple following protests by members of the Hindu community and civil society activists after an attempt was made to demolish the historic structure to make way for a commercial plaza. The Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was […]
Pakistan’s Ram Leela Temple Row Raises Fears over Hindu Heritage Protection
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Authorities in Pakistan’s Dera Ismail Khan have sealed the historic Ram Leela Temple in Rahim Bazaar, raising concerns over the protection of religious heritage and the conversion of a culturally significant site into a commercial property. World News | Pakistan’s Ram Leela Temple Row Raises Fears over Hindu Heritage Protection.
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