Pakistan suspends, dismisses police officials over temple demolition in Karak

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken stern action against the policemen who did not fulfil their responsibility in protecting the temple in Karak from demolition last month and suspended and dismissed dozens of policemen including two Station House Officers (SHOs), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to the inquiry report of temple demolition in Karak, the KP sacked 12 policemen including two SHOs and suspended 33 policemen for a year for negligence in protecting the temple site.

The inquiry report has also recommended Commandant Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) in writing to conduct a departmental inquiry against its 27 police personnel, the TV channel reported.

KP IG Sanullah Abbasi said the foremost task of the police is to protect the lives and properties of the people and there shall be no compromise on it.

A charged crowd destroyed a temple by setting it on fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district of Karak on December 30.

The charged crowd stormed the temple, set it ablaze and razed it to the ground, later a heavy contingent of police reached the scene to control the crowd.

On January 1, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan announced that the provincial government would rebuild Karak’s Hindu temple that was vandalised and burned by a mob and orders have been issued in this regard.

In a statement, the chief minister said the government will ensure the temple is rebuilt without delay and that the authorities concerned have already been issued directives for the purpose. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed also took notice of the incident.