QUETTA: The ancient temple being used as Government School returned to the Hindu Community lives in District Zhob the Pak-Afghan bordering town of Balochistan.

Setting an interfaith harmony gesture the district official, religious and political leaders have handed over the 100 years temple to the Hindu Community in Zhob city allowing the community to use the temple for their religious practices.

Veteran religious leader and speaker of Central Jamia Mosque of District Zhob Maulana Allah Dad Kakar has handed over the keys of temple to the local Hindu Community during a ceremony held inside the temple.

“Indeed the event is being considered as big achievement after the historical temple re-opened for the Hindu community of district Zhob.” Deputy Commissioner Zhob Taha Saleem said further saying the interfaith harmony gesture has depicted a positive image of Pakistan around the world.

“The temple was being used as Government School since last 45 years but now we have shifted the school in order to allow Hindu Community to carry-on their religious practices.” Taha Saleem said also apologized to the community for a prolong delay.

According to local Hindu Community their forefathers have built the Temple around 200 years’ and there were regular religious practices in the temple but when Pakistan gained independence from British Indian Sub-Continent majority of Hindus migrated to India hence Poja (Hindu’s religious practice) halted.

When Government declared the temple as School it was used to call Mandir School but later the school named as Government Special School district Zhob.

Saleem Jan the district Chairman of HIndu Panchayat has said, our community has been in-state of celebrations because we have received our historical site adding now hymns could heard inside the temple,

“Still 50 to 60 homes of Hindu Community living in Zhob with full religious tolerance but we were deprived from our historical temple.” Saleem Jan, “We are thankful to the High Court, Government of Balochistan, District Officials and religious leaders of our city for returning our religious site.” He added.

The local Hindu Community has been calling of immediate renovation of the temple so they could resume religious practices inside the temple.

Provincial Minister for minorities Dinesh Kumar has announced two million rupees for renovation of the temple added I was invited to participate in the ceremony but I proposed the name of Zhob’s religious leader Allah Dad kakar in order to foster interfaith harmony in Balochistan, “Through this event we have given a message to the world that minorities in Pakistan living in peace and they have full religious independence.” Dinesh Kumar said.

Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem pledged to start renovation of the temple as quick he could adding we didn’t completely shift the School but the government would utilize all its efforts to revamp the structure of the temple,

“I will here praise the Local Political and Religious leaders for their support in handing over the temple to Hindu Community, despite 73 years of independence, the local population didn’t even damage the temple as the pillars and structure still as same as it was before 100 years.

The remote district Zhob of Balochistan Province located along with Afghanistan border remained in grip of Afghan and Pakistani Taliban while minorities frequently targeted by armed groups in Pakistan and Balochistan Province.

The District Secretary General of JUI F Molvi Sultan Shah said, our religion Islam teaches to secure the rights of animals as well, so how can we deprive the Hindu community from their religious site,

“The temple was their property thus they have received the ownership of their historical temple,” Molvi Shah said, “The Hindu and other minorities living in Zhob and other districts of Balochistan with full religious independence.” He said.