Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed inaugurated the rebuilt Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj temple in Karak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province, on the occasion of Diwali and felicitated the Hindu community on the special occasion, UNI news agency said quoting Pakistani media. In December last year, a mob led by a local cleric and others had attacked the temple and demolished it completely.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony on Monday, Justice Gulzar said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has always taken steps to protect the rights of minorities and it would continue to do so in the future. He said that, according to Pakistan's Constitution, the Hindu community has the same rights as people of other religions.

The CJP observed that everyone loves their holy places and no one has the authority to harm anyone's religious place, Express Tribune said. 

He further said the Supreme Court assures minorities protection of their religious freedom and termed it a duty under the Constitution to provide protection to minorities.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ramesh Kumar, patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council and a leader of the ruling PTI party, said he was grateful to the chief justice for taking timely notice of the Karak incident. Kumar said that if four other historic temples were reopened in Pakistan, thousands of Hindus would be able to visit them and this would improve the country's image in South Asia and the world. 

He also announced a conference to dispel the negative impression built against the minorities in Pakistan. Minorities in the country, he added, are completely free to practise their basic rights, including receiving education and religious freedom (SAM)