Another temple is no more
From Daily Dawn
By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, May 27: In violation of its own scheme for management and disposal of urban evacuee properties, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (EPTB) has allowed a jeweller to demolish a Hindu temple and construct a commercial building in its place at Wachhowali in Rang Mahal.
The EPTB Scheme for Management and Disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977, categorically prohibits the sale or demolition of an evacuee trust property which is ‘part of appurtenance to a shrine, a religious place or a building of historical or architectural importance’.
Wachhowali, a narrow commercial and residential lane reached through Sooha Bazar and Chhatta Bazaar, is to Lahore what Katas is to Pakistan because of the presence of several Hindu temples, which are managed and maintained by the EPTB.
Each temple is rented out by the EPTB to several tenants for residential as well as commercial purposes. None of the temples located in Wachhowali and maintained by the EPTB is in good shape. However, this is for the first time since its establishment that the board has allowed demolition of a worship place and approved the construction of a commercial building in its place.
The Krishna Mandir, where the influential jeweller has been allowed to build a commercial plaza, was probably the only Hindu temple which still had remnants of a place of worship. This no longer is the case because the entire building, except a small portion facing the Wachhowali lane, has already been brought down by the developer.
One of the 16 former tenants of the temple told Dawn last week that the board had approved the demolition of the structure and the construction of a commercial building in its place about a year or more ago. “We were evicted from the temple some six months back,” he said. The tenants protested against the decision, but later accepted it, fearing the “use of muscle” by the developer.
When a Dawn photographer visited the place early this week to take pictures of whatever was left of the temple, he was immediately surrounded by the henchmen of the developer. “Leave this place,” they told him. “This is private property. We have invested millions of rupees. It has nothing to do with the EPTB. There was no Hindu temple here. If you are looking for a temple, go look a little farther,” they told him when he insisted on taking a picture of the remnants of the temple.
It is not yet clear as to under which law or rule the EPTB has sold the property and approved the demolition of the temple. When contacted on telephone for comments, the EPTB deputy administrator-I, Lahore, Wahab Gull refused to talk on the issue, saying: “If you want to talk about the temple, call the administrator.”
The EPTB administrator Javed Bashir, however, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts as, his staff said, he was out of the office. Nor did he return the call.
It is pertinent to mention that more than a decade ago, the main, wooden gate of the temple was stolen. However, a well-known socialite returned the door after the matter was raised in newspapers. The door is said to be rotting in one of the offices of the EPTB.
It may also be recalled that an 11-marla evacuee trust property inside Yakki Gate has been encroached upon by a developer and a market built on the premises in connivance with the officials of the board.
Another temple is no more
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From Zee News
Advani condemns Lahore temple demolition
New Delhi, June 14: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today condemned the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore to make way for a commercial building in its place.
In a statement here, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha recalled that the Pakistani government had last year asked him to inaugurate a project for restoration of ancient temples in that country.
"I strongly condemn the demolition. This latest happening has naturally shocked millions in our country," Advani said.
News reports from Pakistan said the country's evacuee trust property board, which administers historical shrines of religious minorities there, has allowed a jeweller to demolish Lahore's Krishna Mandir -- the last Hindu temple in that city-- to build a commercial establishment in its place.
Last year, the BJP leader visited the Katasraj temple, 60 km from Lahore, during his trip to Pakistan.
Bureau Report
Advani condemns Lahore temple demolition
New Delhi, June 14: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today condemned the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore to make way for a commercial building in its place.
In a statement here, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha recalled that the Pakistani government had last year asked him to inaugurate a project for restoration of ancient temples in that country.
"I strongly condemn the demolition. This latest happening has naturally shocked millions in our country," Advani said.
News reports from Pakistan said the country's evacuee trust property board, which administers historical shrines of religious minorities there, has allowed a jeweller to demolish Lahore's Krishna Mandir -- the last Hindu temple in that city-- to build a commercial establishment in its place.
Last year, the BJP leader visited the Katasraj temple, 60 km from Lahore, during his trip to Pakistan.
Bureau Report
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ISLAMABAD: The only Hindu temple in the Pakistani city
of Lahore has been demolished to pave the way for
construction of a multi-storied commercial building.
The temple was recently demolished after officials of
the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB), the
government body maintaining properties of minorities,
specially Hindus and Sikhs, reportedly concealed facts
from the board chairman about the nature of the
building, daily 'Dawn' reported on Tuesday.
A private developer was allowed to demolish 'Krishna
Mandir' at Wachhoowali, Rang Mahal and raise a
commercial building in its place in violation of the
EPTB's own scheme for management and disposal of urban
evacuee trust properties, it said.
Quoting documents, the paper said board officials did
not mention that the property being given to an
influential jeweller of the area, was a Hindu temple.
Had the officials indicated in the correspondence with
the chairman that the property was a Hindu temple, he
might have rejected the request for its transfer to
the jeweller-developer for the construction of a
four-storey commercial building, an EPTB official was
quoted as saying.
The demolition was objected to by several opposition
members of the National Assembly like Pakistan Peoples
Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-N, who reportedly
moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an
act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with
neighbouring countries.
of Lahore has been demolished to pave the way for
construction of a multi-storied commercial building.
The temple was recently demolished after officials of
the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB), the
government body maintaining properties of minorities,
specially Hindus and Sikhs, reportedly concealed facts
from the board chairman about the nature of the
building, daily 'Dawn' reported on Tuesday.
A private developer was allowed to demolish 'Krishna
Mandir' at Wachhoowali, Rang Mahal and raise a
commercial building in its place in violation of the
EPTB's own scheme for management and disposal of urban
evacuee trust properties, it said.
Quoting documents, the paper said board officials did
not mention that the property being given to an
influential jeweller of the area, was a Hindu temple.
Had the officials indicated in the correspondence with
the chairman that the property was a Hindu temple, he
might have rejected the request for its transfer to
the jeweller-developer for the construction of a
four-storey commercial building, an EPTB official was
quoted as saying.
The demolition was objected to by several opposition
members of the National Assembly like Pakistan Peoples
Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-N, who reportedly
moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an
act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with
neighbouring countries.
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Krishna temple is safe: Pakistan
June 15, 2006 23:37 IST
Pakistan on Thursday denied media reports that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been razed and said the temple is safe.
A structure was demolished to make way for the construction of a commercial complex, but there was no temple there, a foreign office statement said.
'The only Krishna temple that exists in Lahore is safe and the temple referred to in a section of the press is an abandoned property being used partly for residential and commercial purposes since the time of the independence according to a clarification of Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan,' a Foreign Office statement said.
'The media report is factually incorrect. In fact, the Krishna temple is situated on Ravi Road, Lahore, whereas the property under reference is in Rang Mahal, Lahore. Both the locations are several kilometers apart,' it said.
However, there is a temple in Wachhowali Bazar in Lahore, which is about 300 feet away from the property under reference. That temple too is intact, the foreign office said.
Contrary to the alleged demolition, the Evacuee Trust Property Board has made considerable improvements in a number of temples including the Krishna temple, at the cost of Rs 13.8 million during the last three years, it said.
Report in a Pakistani newspaper that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been demolished for construction of a commercial complex sparked off a strong reaction by the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata party, and the Indian government sought a clarification from Pakistan on the issue.
June 15, 2006 23:37 IST
Pakistan on Thursday denied media reports that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been razed and said the temple is safe.
A structure was demolished to make way for the construction of a commercial complex, but there was no temple there, a foreign office statement said.
'The only Krishna temple that exists in Lahore is safe and the temple referred to in a section of the press is an abandoned property being used partly for residential and commercial purposes since the time of the independence according to a clarification of Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan,' a Foreign Office statement said.
'The media report is factually incorrect. In fact, the Krishna temple is situated on Ravi Road, Lahore, whereas the property under reference is in Rang Mahal, Lahore. Both the locations are several kilometers apart,' it said.
However, there is a temple in Wachhowali Bazar in Lahore, which is about 300 feet away from the property under reference. That temple too is intact, the foreign office said.
Contrary to the alleged demolition, the Evacuee Trust Property Board has made considerable improvements in a number of temples including the Krishna temple, at the cost of Rs 13.8 million during the last three years, it said.
Report in a Pakistani newspaper that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been demolished for construction of a commercial complex sparked off a strong reaction by the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata party, and the Indian government sought a clarification from Pakistan on the issue.
Pakistan on Sunday denied media reports that Krishna Mandir in Lahore had been demolished and said the structure being referred to was not a mandir but an abandoned property.
"The only Krishna Temple that exists in Lahore is safe," a Pakistan High Commission release in New Delhi said, quoting the 'Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
Stressing that media reports on the temple's demolition were factually incorrect, it said the Krishna Mandir was situated on Ravi Road in Lahore while the property under reference was in the Rang Mahal area.
"Both the sites are several kilometres apart, the note said, adding the temple was intact but its surrounding property was being used for residential purpose by 35 occupants of the ETPB since 1947.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598 ... 020000.htm
"The only Krishna Temple that exists in Lahore is safe," a Pakistan High Commission release in New Delhi said, quoting the 'Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
Stressing that media reports on the temple's demolition were factually incorrect, it said the Krishna Mandir was situated on Ravi Road in Lahore while the property under reference was in the Rang Mahal area.
"Both the sites are several kilometres apart, the note said, adding the temple was intact but its surrounding property was being used for residential purpose by 35 occupants of the ETPB since 1947.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598 ... 020000.htm