CJP takes suo motu notice of Karak temple burning down

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed has taken suo motu notice of the burning down of a Hindu temple in Karak district and fixed the matter for hearing on January 5, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

The Chief Justice has ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and inspector general of police to submit a report regarding the burning down of the temple in the apex court on January 4.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed took the action after holding a meeting with minority MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar in Karachi on Thursday. During the meeting, Ramesh Kumar requested the Chief Justice to take suo motu notice of the incident.

Expressing serious reservations about the burning down of the temple, the Chief Justice ordered the KP chief secretary and IGP to visit the temple and submit a report on January 4.

On Wednesday, a charged crowd set fire to the Hindu temple in Karak district. Crowds of thousands descended on the temple in the village of Teri and began to rip bricks from the walls and set it on fire. No one was inside the temple at the time.

The temple, which was first erected in 1919 had recently undergone refurbishment after an order from the Supreme Court in 2015. This was the second time it had been demolished, following an incident in 1997.

Police and guards had been stationed outside amid security fears for the temple.

Anger had begun to build in recent days after the construction of a small property next to the temple, which locals wrongfully believed was an unauthorised expansion of the shrine.