- CJP reprimands cement factories in the vicinity
- Apex court concerned over absence of statues of Hindu deities in the temple
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday barred lower courts from hearing any petitions regarding the Chakwal’s Katas Raj temples case.
“Subordinate courts are not authorised to hear any case that is being heard in the Supreme Court,” he declared. “I’m instructing all civil judges [not to admit any case regarding the temple]. We are only issuing a verbal order right now.”
The CJP issued these directives during the hearing of a suo motu notice taken on the basis of media reports that the Katas Raj temple complex pond was drying up because cement factories nearby were drawing a large amount of water through a number of drill bores, severely reducing the sub-soil level.
In addition, almost every home in Katas Waulah and Choa Saidan Shah draws water through boring due to the absence of a proper supply network. The unchecked plantation of eucalyptus saplings in the region has compounded the problem.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Nisar reprimanded the cement factories in the area, calling them “destructive”, and demanded to know the names of the factories that are located near the temple. Punjab government’s counsel told the court that Best Way Cement Factory Chakwal, Ghareeb Wall Factory and DG Khan Cement were among the factories near the temple.
The bench also showed reservations on the absence of the DG Khan cement factory’s counsel, Salman Akram Raja.
The chief justice observed: “If Salman Akram Raja is outside the country then Mian Mansha should appear before the court”.
The CJP, while expressing grave concern over the absence of statues of Hindu deities in the temples, demanded to know why there were no statues in the temples of Shiri Ram and Hanuman.
“Do the authorities even have the idols or have they been displaced?” the CJP asked.
Blaming it on the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) former chairman Asif Hashmi, the ETPB lawyer said, the former chairman earned millions of rupees from corruption [during his tenure] and then ran away [from the country].”
Justice Nisar responded by asking why Hashmi had not been arrested, saying that the court can summon the Punjab home secretary and foreign secretary for answers.
He further remarked that the court will not leave the issue till concrete action.
The hearing of the case was adjourned until Wednesday.
At the last hearing, the bench asked why a need is created for the judiciary to interfere in matters of governance.
Coming down hard on the government over its failure to protect the Hindu community’s revered site, the chief justice had asked what the government is doing about the matter.
The Katas Raj temples are situated near Choa Saidan Shah in the Chakwal district of Punjab and are dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. The site originally housed a cluster of seven ancient temples, along with a Buddhist stupa and the home of a warrior — built between 6th and 13th century.
Legend has it the pond was created by teardrops of Shiva over the death of his wife Sati. Hindu pilgrims from around the world visit the Katas Raj temples during the Maha Shivratri festival and bathe in the sacred pond to seek forgiveness. Some believe the water holds healing powers.
