According to the dialogue, informally called ‘Jirga’, the accused have apologized over the attack and a similar incident in 1997.
Morning Tidings community in Pakistan’s banned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to forgive the mob that broke and burned a century-old temple in the province.
Local clerics and members of the Hindu community held a meeting on Saturday to resolve the dispute.
According to the dialogue, informally called ‘Jirga’, the accused have apologized over the attack and a similar incident in 1997. Muslim religious leaders have assured full protection to Hindus and their rights as per the constitution of the country.
The statement of reconciliation from the meeting will be presented to the Supreme Court in the meeting to free the accused from detention.
On 30 December last year, a mob led by some local clerics and members of the radical Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam vandalized the temple and a ‘samadhi’ and set fire to the village of Terry in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking to the media after a meeting with the local Ulema, Pakistan Hindu Council President Ramesh Kumar said that the incident had hurt the sentiments of Hindus across the world.
Mr. Kumar, who is also a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said that KPK Chief Minister Mahmood Khan presided over the ‘Jirga’ and thanked him for settling the matter amicably.
Mahmud Khan, in his address to the members of the Jirga, strongly condemned the attack, calling it an attempt to pollute the peaceful environment in the province.
The attack on the temple drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and leaders of the minority Hindu community, leading the Supreme Court to order its reconstruction.
About 50 people have been arrested in the case.
After this incident, India lodged a strong protest with Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs had apprised the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi of its grave concerns over repeated incidents of similar incidents and atrocities against members of the minority community.
India had also called the Pakistan government to the United Nations, stating that the country’s enforcement agencies stood as a “silent spectator” when a historic Hindu temple was attacked.
The Samadhi of Shri Paramahansa Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by the Hindu community. It was built where he died in 1919 in Teri village of Karak.
Many decades ago there was a dispute over mausoleum.
According to details submitted to the Supreme Court in 2014, in a case about it, Hindus visited the temple until 1997 when it was dismantled by the locals.
The top court in 2014 ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to restore and rebuild the Hindu shrine.
Hindus are the largest minority community in Pakistan.
According to official estimates, 7.5 million Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, more than 90 lakh Hindus live in the country.
Most of the Hindu population of Pakistan is inhabited in Sindh province where they share culture, tradition and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by extremists.
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