Historic Hindu Temple Demolished in Pakistan | Historic Hindu temple demolished in Pakistan, construction of commercial complex going on at the site

A historic Hindu temple has been demolished near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with construction work on a commercial complex already underway at the site. Known as the ‘Khyber Temple’, the holy site in the border town of Landi Kotal Bazaar was closed since 1947, when its original inhabitants migrated to India. Despite claims of its existence by a prominent tribal journalist from the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, officials in various administrative departments have either denied knowledge of the temple or claimed that the construction was following regulations.

Recalling the stories told by his ancestors, journalist Ibrahim Shinwari confirmed the presence of the temple and mourned its demise.Haroon Sarbadial of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee stressed that it is the responsibility of the district administration and concerned government departments to ensure the protection and rehabilitation of historical buildings of religious importance to non-Muslims. “The Department of Archeology and Museums, police, culture department and the local government were bound by the 2016 antiquities law to protect such sites, including places of worship,” he said.

However, according to Dawn report, Assistant Commissioner Landi Kotal, Muhammad Irshad, feigned ignorance about the demolition of the temple, citing the absence of any mention in the official land records. He said the land belonged to the state and ‘no objection certificate’ was issued for the renovation of old shops.

The lack of authentic revenue records in Khyber district has further complicated the situation due to conflicting statements from municipal officials and former officials involved in the construction deal.

Despite claims by Landi Kotal Patwari Jamal Afridi about the temple’s absence in revenue records, concerns remain over the fading heritage of religious minorities. Shinwari questioned the claims of the district administration and municipal corporation officials in Khyber that there was no official land record of the temple.

“It is the responsibility of the Auqaf Department to maintain and preserve historic non-Muslim places of worship, but the department had no office or staff in the Khyber Tribal District,” Shinwari said. He further said, “Many old tribal elders will testify to the fact that there was a temple in the main Landi Kotal market.”