The federal government has now been facing criticism as a serious violation of Capital Development Authority (CDA) bylaws has been observed in the construction of a Hindu temple prompting the CDA to halt the construction of the temple, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday, quoting its sources.

The building plan of the temple has not been approved by the CDA and no NOC was issued for the construction of the temple while the sources claimed that an NOC is required for the construction of any building including the temple in the capital. The temple was also not approved by the CDA Planning Services.

The construction of the building will be thus considered illegal, the sources claimed.

Moreover, amid the pressure mounting on the federal government to stop the construction of the temple, the PTI-led government has now decided to seek advice from Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on providing funds for the construction of the Hindu temple.

Previously, well-known religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani in a statement on Thursday said, “Non-Muslims in the Islamic state have the right to maintain their places of worship wherever it is necessary for their population.

“A country like Pakistan which is made for peace can build new places of worship as per the need,” he maintained. However, Mufti Usmani said, “It is not permissible for the government to build a temple at its own expense, especially at a place where the Hindu community is not in a big number.”

Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan had also said that the present government has nothing to do with allotting land for the construction of this temple. He said Pakistanis are open-minded and will welcome the construction of any churches, gurdwaras and temples with an open heart.

However, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in a video statement, while strongly opposing the establishment of the Hindu temple in Islamabad, had said that Pakistan came into existence in the name of Islam and building a new temple in the capital is not only against the spirit of Islam but it is also an insult to the ‘state of Madinah’.

The site of the Shri Krishna Mandir (temple) complex will include a crematorium, accommodation for visitors, a community hall and a parking space spread across an area of four kanals. Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved a grant of Rs100 million for the construction of the first Hindu temple in the capital.