After nearly three decades, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has issued an order, penned by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, directing an official to assess the site of the Jain Mandir and Neela Gumbad (Blue Tomb) temples and start steps toward repair and rehabilitation.
According to directives, the work should be completed as soon as possible, with a preliminary report due within one month.
Following the demolition of the Babri Mosque in India on Dec. 6, 1992, a mob assaulted and destroyed the Jain Mandir two days later. Mobs desecrated almost 30 Hindu temples in Pakistan, while protests against the destruction of the Babri mosque erupted on the streets.
In 1992 when a court ruled in favour of Babri Mosque, a group of people attacked the Babri Mosque, which was built in the 15th century. The massive structure was demolished in matter of hours.
After this, riots erupted all over India, resulting in destruction of 23 mosques and deaths of nearly 2,000 people.
Later as the case proceeded, on November 9, 2019, Indian court reversed the decision in favour of Hindus, stating that “disputed land” will be granted to Hindus while Muslims will be given five acres separately in Ayodhya.
All 32 defendants, including former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, were acquitted in the Babri Mosque destruction case in September 2020.
Meanwhile, work on the temple has begun by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). Chairman Aamer Ahmed directed that the project’s cost and duration be presented as soon as feasible.
