PESHAWAR: A jirga backed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has helped the residents of Karak district and members of the Hindu community reach an agreement to settle issues that arose after the desecration of a local Hindu shrine over two months ago.

On Dec 30, 2020, a mob had vandalised and torched the Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj shrine in the remote Teri area of Karak district.

Adviser of the chief minister on science and information technology Ziaullah Bangash and Pakistan Hindu Council patron-in-chief and MNA Ramesh Kumar announced the deal in a presser here on Saturday.

The residents of Karak apologised to the Hindu community for vandalising its shrine. The Hindus accepted the apology and assured the jirga that they would cooperate with it on all issues, including the release of those detained on the charge of demolishing the shrine.

Karak residents apologise for incident, Hindus promise cooperation for release of detainees

The police had arrested over 30 residents, including a senior JUI-F leader and clerics, for desecrating the Hindu shrine.

Mr Bangash said a committee was formed by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on the issue, while parleys were held at a local level and the Hindu Council was involved.

He said the jirga also met the chief minister to get his approval for the deal.

The chief minister’s aide said both sides and government representatives had met in the office of the home secretary two days ago and agreed on the deal.

He said the people put behind bars for the shrine desecration had also formally declared that they would follow the jirga’s decision, while Mr Kumar also held out an assurance that they would abide by that decision.

Mr Bangash said the local elders apologised to the Hindu community over the desecration of the Hindu shrine and assured it of the protection of its religious rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

The elders also said whenever Hindus visited Teri, they (elders) would welcome them.

Mr Kumar and government’s representatives agreed to offer cooperation for the release of those detained for the shrine attack.

He said both sides also agreed to resolve any issue arising in future through dialogue.

Mr Kumar said the Hindus also agreed to reciprocate after the local elders’ apology over tehe shrine attack by cooperating with them for the resolution of all issues, including the release of those behind bars.

He said the chief minister met him thrice on the issue.

On the occasion, local MPA Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel said the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding and the government should take legal steps for the early release of detainees.

Meanwhile, the jirga members met Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and informed him about their efforts for the amicable resolution of issues regarding the Karak shrine attack.

According to a statement issued here, Mr Mahmood termed the Karak incident tragic and highly-condemnable one and said it was a failed bid to destroy peace and inter-faith harmony in the area.

He appreciated the jirga’s role to resolve the issue through negotiations.

The chief minister said the government would make all required steps to prevent such incidents in future and that the ulema and elders should play their due effective role in that respect.

He said Islam and Constitution guaranteed the protection of the rights of religious minorities in the country and that their all religious places in the province would be given complete protection.

Mr Mahmood said leaders of the Hindu community thanked the provincial government, especially the chief minister, for taking an effective yet quick action over the Karak shrine attack.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2021