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ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: A temple located at Bagh Sardaran Road constructed before the partition is giving a picture of apathy and neglect of the authorities concerned.
The otherwise relic of past should have been preserved and looked after to draw the people of Hindu community and tourists from across the world was encroached by the local traders as the Hindu community, who was supervising the temple, have shifted to Sindh. Now the situation is even worse that the building is crumbling and can collapse any time.
The relevant authorities have no time even for the human beings, how they can care for the old temples, Muhammad Ayub, a trader of the area said while talking to Dawn.
As soon as Hindu community left the place, the residents of the area opened shops even inside the temple. The stairs which led to first floor were also blocked, he said.
While quoting his late father, Ayub said during late 60s, the Hindus performed their religious rituals at the temple. As the cleric died, his family shifted to Sindh because most of the community members had already gone there.
As soon as they left the area, the local people initially occupied the land located in front of the temple and later, they started encroaching upon the temple and began to use it as a godown but in early 80s, a resident of the area made a shop in it and said that he had purchased the building.
All this was happening but the authorities concerned were least bothered about taking any action against the encroachers.
Nazir Ahmed, a retired headmaster of the school located near the temple said that in western countries, people and relevant departments cared for such buildings but here in Pakistan, departments did not give preference to these matters.
Administrator Auqaf Department, Rawalpindi, Abdul Wahab said that temple was very old and people had occupied it before his posting so the department had decided not to interfere in that building’s affairs. “Anyhow, other buildings which are already under control of Auqaf Department are in good shape and repair work on them is being carried out,” he said.
