Despite Imran Khan's pledge to help the Hindu minority of Pakistan build their own temple in the country's capital to practice their faith, extremist Muslim groups exerted many efforts to hinder the construction of Islamabad's first mandir.
Victory for the extremists as a young boy in the video can be seen demolishing foundation of the #temple in #Islamabad.
— Kapil Dev (@KDSindhi) July 5, 2020
Did our forefathers make a mistake by choosing this part of the border in 1947 & did not move to India?
Jinnah sb must be crying today!
#MandirTauBanega pic.twitter.com/uEMP8cjfa4
Weeks after the Pakistani government ordered the release of funds that goes into building the Shri Krishna Mandir, construction was halted; following Muslim teenage attack of the foundations of the building. Thus removing it in rejection of the temple, where Hindu Pakistanis are supposed to practice their religion for the first time in decades in the capital city.
The short video shows several young individuals destroying the foundation of the Hindu temple planned to be managed by Pakistan Hindu Panchayat, a local organization that serves as the political representative of the Hindu population in the country.
According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, there are at least 8 million Hindu Pakistanis living in the country as per 2018 statistics.
I support the construction of #Mandir in #Islamabad .#MandirTauBanega #MandirInIslamabad ?? pic.twitter.com/4H0MwRlKYE
— Arzoo Kazmi ?? (@Arzookazmi30) July 4, 2020
I am Hindu, We are here since 5000 years in Sindh. We believe in religious harmony & hate extremism. Some people, media & youtube channels are spreading hate & destroying brotherhood & unity between Hindus & Muslims. We pay tax as other do, so#MandirTauBanega #ShameOn92News pic.twitter.com/RGOir3PzVD
— Dhanjee Kolhi (@DhanjeeKolhi) July 4, 2020
Reacting to the video of the attack, many young Pakistanis expressed their anger at extremists; who constantly work on preventing citizens from other religious beliefs to practice their religion, especially Hindus.
Additionally, some users pointed out the hypocrisy in extremist Muslims' rhetoric protesting Indian laws that target the Muslim population of India while practicing the same kind of oppression towards the Hindu Pakistani population in their own country.
In your country, you are not allowing a Mandir to be built but have the audacity to decry the injustice of Modi, Isreal, and Syria? Don't you chock on your hypocrisy?#MandirTauBanega pic.twitter.com/WheYhXYYNU
— Ayesha Sed (@Ayesha_Sed) July 4, 2020
Some Muslim voices pointed at Islamic instructions given by the prophet Mohammad on "the significance of protecting non-Muslims' right to practice their religions," saying that "extremists who reject constructing the Hindu temple are going against Islamic values."
A radical Muslim group who are opposing construction of temple in Islamabad should read this Charter of Privileges to non-muslims written by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and if they are still opposing this construction then they are definitely disobeying Islam.#MandirTauBanega pic.twitter.com/3njDwAVEpv
— Imran Khan (@ImmiShinwari) July 4, 2020
- WE ARE #PAKISTANI, NOT #INDIANS.
— Sunil Mahesani (@sunilmahesani) July 4, 2020
- We didn't #Demolish the #Baburi Mosque.
- We didn't do any #injustice with Muslims anywhere in the world.
- We are #Humans too.
Please note that. #Treat us #equal citizens.#ShameOn92News #islamabadmandir #MandirTauBanega
Up until 1992, Pakistan had more than 400 Hindu temples most of which were destroyed in retaliation attacks following an attack that destroyed the Babri Masjid by Hindu extremists in India. Today, the country has about 20 small temples that are reportedly suffering from neglect.
According to the Hindustan Times, almost 3000 Hindu Pakistanis live in Islamabad today and they all have to travel for miles to attend religious ceremonies or carry out cremation rituals of the dead.
