Days after the incident of vandalism of a Hindu temple in Pakistan, the country’s Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has assured minority communities that their rights would be protected and these incidents will not be repeated.

Calling these incidents “intolerable” and “unacceptable”, he said, “Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and churches are as important and sacred to me as my own religious places.” 

These incidents should be stopped using force, he directed. 

“A sense of tolerance and religious harmony should be instilled in our society so that the people are allowed to live and profess their religion freely without any fear,” Justice Gulzar was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The apex court, he said, always takes the fundamental rights of all people of the country very seriously and sincerely and we have always been at the forefront to ensure no unfairness, atrocities, or violation of any fundamental right of the minority communities take place.

He assured that the top court would continue to take measures relentlessly to ensure necessary action against any disrespect to the harmony, tranquillity, or coherence in society.

The top judge also stressed the need for rooting out the rampant practice of marrying underage girls from minority communities with Muslims, especially in Sindh and Punjab.

“The law clearly disallows underage marriage of girls and since such wedlocks may not be void but definitely wrong and, therefore, this should come to an end. The courts should always pronounce the dissolution of such marriages,” he said. 

(SAM)