Decision to restore 1200 year old Valmiki temple in Pakistan
Decision to restore 1200 year old Valmiki temple in Pakistan
The Valmiki Temple near Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan was occupied by a Christian family for nearly 20 years.
The 1,200-year-old Valmiki temple in Pakistan is being restored after a long legal battle. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the body responsible for overseeing the places of worship of Pakistan's minorities, said this on Wednesday. The Valmiki Temple near Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan was occupied by a Christian family for nearly 20 years. However, the ETPB recovered the temple from the family last month.
According to ETPB, the members of the Christian family claimed that they became Hindus as a result of conversion. And after that for the last two decades they took possession of this temple and allowed only 'Valmiki' caste Hindus to worship in the temple. However, after a long legal battle, the court restored the temple and ordered everyone to enter.
ETPB spokesperson Aamir Hashmi told news agency PTI that the restoration work of Valmiki temple will start soon as per the master plan. He said, "At least more than 100 people from Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities gathered at the Valmiki temple on Wednesday after the occupiers were evicted. The Hindus performed their religious rites and provided for enjoyment.''
An ETPB official also said that the temple was handed over to the ETPB as per the land revenue records of the temple. However, in 2010, the Christian family claimed that they owned the temple and the land adjacent to the temple. A case was also filed in the civil court regarding this. However, after the hearing, the court said that a false case was filed by the Christian family.