100-yr-old temple in Pak being used as auto workshop

[srinu]

100-yr-old temple in Pak being used as auto workshop
7 May 2008, 0101 hrs IST,Yudhvir Rana,TNN

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AMRITSAR: The conversion of a century-old-Hindu temple into an auto repair workshop in Karachi has invited the ire of the minority Hindu community in Pakistan.

After failing to get the issue addressed by Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB), the Pakistan Hindu Council has now written to the President and Prime Minister to restore the sanctity of the temple, besides seeking a representation in PETPB.

Speaking to TOI over phone from Karachi, PHC patron Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the evacuee trust board had leased out the temple, situated close to customs house, to a pathan, who was now running an auto repair workshop there.

“When there was no positive response from PETPB, we urged Pakistan's President and Prime Minister to intervene,” said Vankwani, adding that PHC had also sought permission to take over the possession of shrine.

Vankwani said PETPB had a large number of Hindu properties. “We have requested Pakistani government to give proper representation to Hindus in PETPB, besides urging them to lease out Hindu properties after consulting PHC,” he added.

Vankwani said PHC has also asked the Pakistan government to grant visas to Hindus from Pakistan so that they can pay obeisance at Hinglaj Mata temple, a historical shrine.

He said the aim of PHC was to promote and propagate Vedic and Hindu culture in Pakistan and unite all the factions and sects of Hindus on a platform to solve the community's problem. T