ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday disposed of the cases against construction of a Hindu temple through public funds in the federal capital territory.

Three pleas were filed against the construction of the temple in Islamabad. The court said the court had no basis to interfere in the matter and declared the petitions ineffective. Justice Aamer Farooq was hearing the cases.

The pleas had sought details of the provisions for construction of a temple in Islamabad under its master plan and the government’s providing Rs100 million for this purpose.

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The IHC was apprised that a land had been allotted for the temple in Sector H-9/2 near graveyards of minority communities.

The court noted that the matter had been referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

On July 6, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had said the temple management should work with the civic agency to get the temple site demarcated, before the construction would begin.

They had further added that it was necessary to get the new building plan accepted by CDA before the work began. This order followed after a boundary wall was being built, on Friday.  PTI MNA Lal Chand Malhi had said “We abide by the rules but construction of a boundary wall was necessary as some people backed by a few seminary students has set up tents on the plot in 2018 and it took us several months to get it cleared.”

An official of civic agency had said “We allotted the plot in H-9 for the establishment of a temple some years ago. But adherence to the CDA bylaws is mandatory for the allottees.” He had further added that whenever the management of the temple will apply, the construction of the temple will be given approval according to the priority.