Fatwa issued against the first temple being built in the capital of Pakistan

Islamabad, Ta. 2 July 2020, Thursday

The construction of the first temple to be built in the Pakistani capital Islamabad has not even started yet. The situation is so dire that a fatwa has been issued against the construction of the temple. In fact, the foundation of one of the walls of the temple was dug just last week. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan had also approved Rs 10 crore for the construction of the temple but now protests have begun.

According to a report by a Pakistani channel, a religious organization called Jamia Ashrafia has issued a fatwa against the construction of the temple. On Tuesday, the organization issued a fatwa against the construction of the temple, calling it anti-Islamic. Mufti Ziauddin, the Lahore president of Jamia Ashrafia, said government funds could not be used to build temples or other religious sites for non-Muslims.

According to Mufti Ziauddin, the government's decision to spend people's tax money on temple construction raises questions. Not only this, an application has also been filed in the Islamabad High Court against the construction of this temple. However, the Islamabad High Court had refused to issue a stay order on the construction of the temple. According to the court, minorities in Pakistan have the same right to religious freedom as the majority.

Lal Chandra Malhi of the Hindu Panchayat Islamabad, which manages the Krishna temple, said construction would continue despite protests. Lal Chandra Malhi is also Pakistan's Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights. It may be mentioned that the construction work of this temple of Lord Krishna, which will be built at a cost of Rs 10 crore, has started. The temple will be built on 20,000 square feet of land in the H-9 area of ​​the capital. Lal Chandra Malhi laid the foundation stone of the temple on Tuesday.

"This will be the first Hindu temple in Islamabad," Malhi tweeted. The government has given land for the construction of this temple. The Islamabad Hindu Panchayat has named this temple Shrikrushna Mandir. Land was allotted for the temple in 2017 but due to some formalities, the construction of the temple was stalled for three years.

It is learned that there will also be a place for funeral rites in the temple premises. Apart from that, different places will be built according to different Hindu beliefs. Imran Khan approved the temple project on June 27 after a meeting with Religious Affairs Minister Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and announced funding. Minority leader Lal Chandra Malhi was also present at the time.