Pakistani Hindu woman moves court over temple

PESHAWAR - A Hindu woman in this northwestern Pakistani city has moved the high court to stake claim over an old temple. The court Tuesday directed the archaeology and revenue departments to present the temple records.

A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court directed the Peshawar district revenue officer and the director of archaeology and museums to produce the records of the temple located in the walled city locality of Gor Gathri, the News International reported Wednesday.

The court took suo moto cognizance of an application filed by Phool Vati, who claimed rights over the temple.

She claimed in her application that her family was caretaker of the temple before Pakistan became independent and her title to the temple should be restored.

Phool Vati said that in 2002 the archaeology department took possession of the temple. The authorities took away precious statues and a trident made of gold.

She mentioned that she had moved a civil court for seeking ownership of the temple and adjoining residential quarters. However, the court dismissed her plea on the ground that it had no jurisdiction to hear it.

Director of Archaeology and Museums Saleh Muhammad Khan informed the court that the Peshawar Development Authority had set aside a sum of Rs.2.5 million for the preservation of the temple.

In a previous hearing, Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Khursheed has said that the temple was on an archaeological site.