RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the Punjab government within fortnight in a petition seeking restoration of a temple Jane Mandar and protection of worship places belonging to the minorities.

A bar member Javed Jafree argued that that Jane Mandar was demolished in sheer violation of law and rights of the minorities enshrined by the constitution. The lawyer said that many illegal buildings were built around churches, temples and other worship places of the minorities which had not been demolished yet.

A law officer said that after 18th amendment, protection of the minorities’ worship places was now the responsibility of the provincial government rather than the federal.

A member Board of Revenue told the court that all autonomous institutions and departments had been asked to protect the historic sites belonging to the minorities. A provincial law officer said that Jane Mandar was demolished in reaction of demolition of Babri Mosque in India.