ETPB retrieves Neela Gumbad Valmiki Temple from illegal occupation

LAHORE: Historic Neela Gumbad Valmiki Hindu temple located in provincial capital has been retrieved from illegal occupants by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Pakistan Today learnt on Thursday.

An official of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the temple was occupied by people who claimed themselves Hindus but were probably not.

On the other hand, an ETPB official confirmed the development and said that the temple had been under a dispute among some people for the past 12 years.

“When the ETPB attempted to take over the temple, the illegal occupants approached courts where the matter remained sub judice for 12 years.

However, a one-man commission was recently set up by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and in its report, the commission made recommendations for improving condition of the temple and its renovation. The implementation of the above recommendations was to be heard in the lower court regarding the temple and when the lower court ruled in favor of the ETPB, a high-level meeting was held in which a strategy was formulated to retrieve the temple from the illegal occupants,” he informed.

On the other hand, ETPB spokesperson Amir Hashmi informed this scribe that in the light of the guidelines of ETPB Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani, Additional Secretary Shrines Rana Shahid Saleem had formulated a strategy for taking over the temple.

“We had taken all the quarters and agencies concerned including the police force on board in this regard and had taken systematic action against the illegal occupants. However, the team carrying out the operation did not face any resistance and a report was sent to the federal government,” Hashmi informed.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Additional Secretary Shrines explained that the renovation of the 10 Marla 23 Square Feet Valmiki Temple will start soon, adding that people from the Hindu community will continue performing worship and other religious rituals in the temple.

 

 

Shahab Omer
Shahab Omer
The writer is a member of the staff and can be reached on [email protected]

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