Absence of statues from Katas Raj temple worries SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed concern over the absence of statues at the Katas Raj temple complex in Chakwal. The court was hearing a suo moto case that was taken up after the media reported that the sacred pond at Katas Raj was drying up because nearby cement factories were drawing large amounts of groundwater through a number of wells, the media reports.

In Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan questioned the Evacuee Trust Board Property (ETBP)’s counsel whether the statues were with the institution or had been sold off. The board’s counsel said there had been massive financial irregularities during the tenure of former chairman Asif Hashmi.

“He did massive corruption and left the country,” the counsel said, to which Chief Justice Saqib Nisar questioned why Hashmi has not been arrested. The chief justice further said the court will not leave the issue till concrete action was taken.

The CJP remarked why the government recalls everything after destruction. The natural beauty has been marred after cutting all the mountains of the area. He also inquired about the names of cement factories located nearby the temple, terming them “destructive”.

The chief justice barred lower courts from hearing any petitions regarding the ongoing case. Subordinate courts are not authorised to hear any case that is being heard in the Supreme Court , he declared. "I m instructing all civil judges [not to admit any case regarding the temple]. We are only issuing a verbal order right now."

The court sought a detailed report from the Punjab government within a month. The hearing was then adjourned until Wednesday (today). In November, the chief justice had criticised the government for failing to protect the temple. He said the temple was a national heritage site that must be protected.