Peshawar: Authorities in Pakistan have sealed a nearly 200-year-old Hindu temple after members of the Hindu community and civil society activists protested against an attempt to demolish the historic structure to make way for a commercial plaza.
The Ram Leela Temple, located in the Rahim Bazaar area of Dera Ismail Khan city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was taken into official custody on Saturday and subsequently sealed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board.
Local residents intervened earlier in the week to halt demolition work at the site. Sohail Ahmed Azmi, president of the Dera Civil Society and the local traders association, rushed to the location alongside other residents after discovering that workers were attempting to pull down the building. A man at the site reportedly claimed to hold a demolition contract.
Following the incident, civil society representatives and members of the Hindu community gathered to formally oppose the proposed destruction. They called for a comprehensive investigation into the property's ownership and the legality of commercial construction plans at the site, while also urging elected officials to raise the issue in Pakistan's National Assembly.
The temple is officially recognized as one of roughly 400 buildings in Dera Ismail Khan identified as cultural heritage properties by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a government agency responsible for managing properties left behind during the 1947 Partition and holding assets in trust for minority religious groups.
Haroon Sarab Dial, chairman of the All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement, expressed optimism that Hindu religious sites would be granted special protection amid the current period of governor's rule in the province. He additionally pressed for an inquiry into minority properties allegedly occupied or sold illegally between 2013 and 2026.
Pakistan instituted governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, citing deteriorating law and order and accusing the provincial administration of failing to assist with counterterrorism initiatives.
Heritage activists and residents view the Ram Leela Temple as an integral element of the local religious landscape. Civil society representatives noted that a previous attempt to develop a commercial plaza at the same location had also met with resistance from neighbors and merchants.
The broader region features several ancient Hindu religious and archaeological landmarks, including the temple complex at Bilot Sharif, which dates back to the seventh through early eleventh centuries according to the Department of Archaeology and Museums.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has advocated for greater transparency within the Evacuee Trust Property Board, recommending systemic reforms to ensure the agency includes representation from minority communities.
In a recent report addressing religious freedom, the commission detailed ongoing challenges faced by minorities in Pakistan, including fundamental rights violations, discrimination, and concerns regarding the safety of historical minority properties.