A Hindu community residing in Islamabad has been facing issues with the Islamabad Hindu Panchayat (IHP) as well as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the construction of boundary wall around H9 plot Islamabad allocated for cremation.
Protest surrounding the alleged halt in construction took another twist on Sunday when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) denied canceling the work permitted before. Both the authorities are accusing each other of the delay after the backlash on social media.
The CDA, in its reply submitted in the Islamabad High Court, said that construction work was being undertaken on the land allotted to the Hindu community. The authority has refuted claims of delay in dealing with the issue. Also, the boundary wall has not been built around the H-9 cremation ground, despite the Capital Development Authority (CDA) giving permission more than a year ago.
On the other hand, the Hindu Panchayat has informed that they still have not started building a wall because of trying to arrange about Rs. 500,000 for the construction activity. A delegation of the Panchayat recently met with MNA Ali Nawaz Awan, requesting him for CDA’s assistance in the construction of the boundary wall of H9 Plot Islamabad. CDA official MNA Ali Nawaz Awan say they will do whatever is necessary to help the Hindu community to fulfil their needs.
The Panchayat has refused to give the Hindu community any kind of permissions for the cremation ground. Not only that, but even after multiple requests by the commissioner, they have refused to meet him. The Hindus are now petitioning the Council to handle the matter.
Another statement came from Dr Ramesh Vankwani, Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Hindu Council and Member National Assembly, accused Islamabad Hindu Panchayat of delaying the construction of the temple on H-9 plot. He said, “I requested the Panchayat to hand over the case of cremation ground to the Hindu Council.” Dr Vankwani said, adding, “we will raise a boundary wall and also get prepared an architectural design from an architect.” But the Hindu Panchayat had allegedly refused the request, claimed by chairman CDA who is also a member of civic authority.
“We will arrange a meeting with the officials in the Panchayat to finalize the matter,” said Muhesh Chaudhry, President of IHP. However this statement shared by IHP after a week of the request submitted by the authorities.
The Chairman National Commission for Minorities, Mr. Chela Ram, also pointed out that IHP never attempted to contact them, nor did they respond to any of their attempts to hold a meeting. “Our stance is that no person or body can take unilateral decisions without consulting the minorities commission,” said Mr. Ram, adding that they were part of the decision-making process.
Moreover, Parliamentary Committee against Forced Conversion member and PML-N MNA Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das has also accused the members of the Islamabad Panchayat of only being interested in “social media activism”.
History
About three years ago, Hindu families in Sector H-9, Islamabad were allotted land by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for a cremation ground in 2017. The plot was handed over to community members in 2018, but there are still no signs of construction work or completion on the plot.
In 2020, despite they had obtained NOC from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to build the crematorium, they couldn’t build the wall due to local residents objections. But the issue got resolved by the CDA in December 2020.
Conclusion
It is understood that the members of the Panchayat are said to have delayed the issues related to construction until after elections, in fear that the PML-N might not vote for them if they resolve this matter.
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