Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan sealed amid demolition fears

DERA ISMAIL KHAN - Authorities sealed the historic Ram Leela Temple in Rahim Bazaar on Saturday, following activists' intervention to prevent the temple's demolition for a commercial plaza. The building had previously been sealed by Assistant Commissioner Hamid Siddiq after public protests halted construction. Civil society representatives and Hindu community members convened at the office of civil society president Sohail Ahmed Azmi, voicing their opposition to the proposed demolition and urging elected officials to address the issue in the National Assembly.

Attendees, including former MPA Kishore Kumar and social worker Muhammad Nauman, expressed concern over the temple being among 400 cultural heritage properties identified by the Evacuee Trust Property Board. They warned of civil society, business leaders, writers, and heritage advocates standing in the way of any damage to the city's historical heritage.

Participants alleged the authorities had allowed the commercial plaza's construction without proper legal authority. They called for an inquiry and promised to submit complaints to the district administration, NA speaker, archaeology department, and other relevant officials.