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Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan!

illusion8

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Sadia Widad

As I entered the Gracy Lines area in Rawalpindi, I asked for directions to the Balaknash Temple, an 82-year-old temple that will be demolished soon along with 53 quarter houses. It is surrounded by FWO flats. As a guard at the check point told me where to go, he asked inquisitively whether I was a Hindu. I said ‘what do you think’ with a smile, and walked towards the temple.

Siwaa, who is 73-years-old, told me that their hearts were in pain because, after this legal notice, they know it’ll be difficult to not only rebuild the houses but rebuild this historic and treasured temple, that will be lost at the hands of religious intolerance. She questioned why they were considered less than the religious majority citizens of this country, considered any less Pakistani only because they were Hindu. She told me they saw themselves as a part of this land and could lay down their lives for Pakistan.

Why then, can’t they be equal stakeholders in Pakistan?


Rani Shoukat, another lady present there, said she feels they are unwanted here and are anticipated to leave, even though their elders have been living here for the last 102 years. She told me, with tears in her eyes,

“I was born here and got married here. Now, if we will move to another place I don’t think we can settle down. I have this fear because one of our family members left this area and tried to find a house for rent somewhere else, but they had to declare themselves as Christians there because the neighbourhood didn’t want a Hindu family.”


If they move from this place, which is relatively safe for them, how can we guarantee their safety considering there is hardly any place with religious tolerance left?”

“In block 141, Gracy Lines Chaklala, there are a total of 53 houses; inhabiting Hindus, Christians and Muslims, who have been living here for almost 102 years. All we want is that they don’t move us from here and let us live near our temple. We don’t want to leave the place just because some people want to build a residence for themselves.”

While talking to Ashok, we saw stones falling from the adjacent building being demolished. He ran outside to warn the children who were playing, to keep them from getting injured. Ashok calls their state ‘living like slaves in an independent country’. And as much as I want to disagree with him, I cannot.

The religious minorities in Pakistan have exhibited harmony and pride in being a part of this nation. Then why are we adamant on making them feel like outsiders? Why is it that they struggle to find their rightful place even today? Only if we succeed in making them feel secure and free will we be able to ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan. Let them stay – our Hindu Pakistanis deserve a home just like every Muslim Pakistani does.

Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan! – The Express Tribune Blog
 
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Sadia Widad

As I entered the Gracy Lines area in Rawalpindi, I asked for directions to the Balaknash Temple, an 82-year-old temple that will be demolished soon along with 53 quarter houses. It is surrounded by FWO flats. As a guard at the check point told me where to go, he asked inquisitively whether I was a Hindu. I said ‘what do you think’ with a smile, and walked towards the temple.

Siwaa, who is 73-years-old, told me that their hearts were in pain because, after this legal notice, they know it’ll be difficult to not only rebuild the houses but rebuild this historic and treasured temple, that will be lost at the hands of religious intolerance. She questioned why they were considered less than the religious majority citizens of this country, considered any less Pakistani only because they were Hindu. She told me they saw themselves as a part of this land and could lay down their lives for Pakistan.

Why then, can’t they be equal stakeholders in Pakistan?


Rani Shoukat, another lady present there, said she feels they are unwanted here and are anticipated to leave, even though their elders have been living here for the last 102 years. She told me, with tears in her eyes,

“I was born here and got married here. Now, if we will move to another place I don’t think we can settle down. I have this fear because one of our family members left this area and tried to find a house for rent somewhere else, but they had to declare themselves as Christians there because the neighbourhood didn’t want a Hindu family.”


If they move from this place, which is relatively safe for them, how can we guarantee their safety considering there is hardly any place with religious tolerance left?”

“In block 141, Gracy Lines Chaklala, there are a total of 53 houses; inhabiting Hindus, Christians and Muslims, who have been living here for almost 102 years. All we want is that they don’t move us from here and let us live near our temple. We don’t want to leave the place just because some people want to build a residence for themselves.”

While talking to Ashok, we saw stones falling from the adjacent building being demolished. He ran outside to warn the children who were playing, to keep them from getting injured. Ashok calls their state ‘living like slaves in an independent country’. And as much as I want to disagree with him, I cannot.

The religious minorities in Pakistan have exhibited harmony and pride in being a part of this nation. Then why are we adamant on making them feel like outsiders? Why is it that they struggle to find their rightful place even today? Only if we succeed in making them feel secure and free will we be able to ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan. Let them stay – our Hindu Pakistanis deserve a home just like every Muslim Pakistani does.

Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan! – The Express Tribune Blog[/Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan! – The Express Tribune Blog[/Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan! – The Express Tribune Blog[/Don’t demolish Balaknash tem
 
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I'm pretty sure its being torn down because its old and maintaining it is not feasible under the new city plans. When they made the Multan Overpass, they had to tear down four mosques that stood on grounds that needed to be cleared. Lets not make this a religious issue, I am sure the Hindus will be compensated accordingly through the land allocation committee.
 
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I'm pretty sure its being torn down because its old and maintaining it is not feasible under the new city plans. When they made the Multan Overpass, they had to tear down four mosques that stood on grounds that needed to be cleared. Lets not make this a religious issue, I am sure the Hindus will be compensated accordingly through the land allocation committee.


The Main story is this NOT the temple


“In block 141, Gracy Lines Chaklala, there are a total of 53 houses; inhabiting Hindus, Christians and Muslims, who have been living here for almost 102 years. All we want is that they don’t move us from here and let us live near our temple. We don’t want to leave the place just because some people want to build a residence for themselves.”

Source: Don’t demolish Balaknash temple, Pakistan!
 
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I'm pretty sure its being torn down because its old and maintaining it is not feasible under the new city plans. When they made the Multan Overpass, they had to tear down four mosques that stood on grounds that needed to be cleared. Lets not make this a religious issue, I am sure the Hindus will be compensated accordingly through the land allocation committee.
Unfortunately, it is very easy to play 'religion card'. Besides, if the affected are moved unjustly, they should go to the court and try to obtain a stay order. If our judiciary is good at something, it is handing out the stay orders. Moreover, as @Spring Onion has pointed out, there is no mention of the demolition of the temple. If there were any such plans, the inhabitants would have cried louder about the temple demolition instead of their re-location.
 
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I'm pretty sure its being torn down because its old and maintaining it is not feasible under the new city plans. When they made the Multan Overpass, they had to tear down four mosques that stood on grounds that needed to be cleared. Lets not make this a religious issue, I am sure the Hindus will be compensated accordingly through the land allocation committee.

In multan near gullgast colony.. BZU Wala main road. They did the same thing to another mosque to widen the road.. Mullahs made fuss about it n nobody cared...
 
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Babri Masjid anyone?
Babri Mosque is not the only one that was demolished , many others have also been demolished throughout India.

Pakistan should demolish this temple .

As if it has helped in past.
Please talk with substance and references otherwise don't give others chance to laugh at you.
 
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They should migrate to India,Pakistan is no place for Hindus to live, come live in Bharat the homeland of Hindus.
Why live in a country which will always persecute you for the sole reason of enmity with hindus and India?
Pakistani Hindus,come live free and have a better life in Bharat.
 
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They should migrate to India,Pakistan is no place for Hindus to live, come live in Bharat the homeland of Hindus.
Why live in a country which will always persecute you for the sole reason of enmity with hindus and India?
Pakistani Hindus,come live free and have a better life in Bharat.

what about millions of Hindus in India who earn less than a dollar a day. When they would get free and a better life that you want to give to Pakistani hindus?
 
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