Pakistani authorities seal 200-year-old temple after demolition bid sparks outcry

Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have taken control of and sealed a Ram Leela temple estimated to be around 200 years old, halting a controversial plan to demolish the structure for commercial purposes. The decision to place the religious site under government custody came after mounting pressure from Hindu residents and civil society organizations opposed to the proposed conversion into a commercial plaza.

The temple, a significant place of worship for the region's Hindu minority, had been slated for demolition to make way for commercial development. Local community members and activists voiced strong objections to the plan, citing cultural and religious concerns about the loss of a heritage structure.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the government body responsible for managing religious properties, assumed control of the temple and sealed it to prevent further action on the demolition project. The move reflects efforts to balance development pressures with minority community rights in the region.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Pakistan over property rights, minority religious protections, and urban development priorities. Hindu communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprise a small minority in the predominantly Muslim province, and disputes over religious sites have occasionally generated significant local tensions.