ISLAMABAD, 14 June, 2021 (TON): The Supreme Court of Pakistan leased out a Hindu dharamshala in Karachi to an individual, imprisoned the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) from demolishing it.

A three-judge bench issued the order in the case related to the implementation of a 2014 judgment on minorities rights.

The property located in Saddar Karachi, measuring about 716 sq. yards was a dharamshala, said, Ramesh Kumar, the co-opt member of the one-man commission on minorities.

Kumar also submitted photographs of the building and told the Supreme Court that the ETPB had leased the property to the individual for the demolition and allowed construction of a commercial plaza.

Supreme Court’s ordered, "The very photograph apparently shows that the building is of a dharamshala constructed in the year 1932, which can be read from the marble slab affixed on the building and must be protected heritage building."

The order added, "In the meantime, no demolition activity of the said building shall be conducted by anyone and possession of the building and the land shall be taken over by the Commissioner Karachi, who shall manage the same and not allow any person to enter upon it."

"In the meantime, no demolition activity of the said building shall be conducted by anyone and possession of the building and the land shall be taken over by the Commissioner Karachi, who shall manage the same and not allow any person to enter upon it," the order added.

However, the court issued a notice to the Sindh provincial secretary heritage, asking for a report on the building and barred authorities from demolishing it.