PAKISTAN, February 25, 2016 (DNA, India): An ancient Hindu temple in this northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar is being demolished secretly in the name of repair with a commercial plaza set to come up on its land. They said the process started some 10 days ago and is going on without any hindrance. “There is no action from any of the government departments which are supposed to protect such buildings,” the resident said. There is no action by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Auqaf Department dealing with the non-Muslim properties and the Archaeology Department — the departments tasked with protecting such properties.
“Either these departments are a partner in the crime or they are negligent,” a resident said. Demanding an immediate halt to the demolition process, the residents asked ETPB Chairman Saddique-ul-Farooq to order a probe into the issue to bring to justice the government officials whose negligence or tacit approval had put in danger the ancient Hindu temple. The Civil Society members, in a statement, said this is a painful story in all major cities of Pakistan where speculative land mafia in collusion with lower-tier government officials and police get away with destroying Pakistan’s precious heritage. The government is reduced to being a silent spectator in this demolition, they said.