Peshawar (TIP): Pakistan’s Khyber Pakthunkhwa Provincial Government has released over Rs 3.48 crore for the reconstruction of a revered Hindu shrine damaged by a mob led by some local clerics and members of radical Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in December last year.

The provincial government will give Rs 3,48,29,000 to the Auqaf Department for the reconstruction of the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj destroyed on December 30 last year in the Terri village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district.

The attack on a century-old temple and the adjoining ‘samadhi’ had drawn strong condemnation from human rights activists and the minority Hindu community leaders, prompting the Supreme Court to order its reconstruction. The court directed the provincial government to ensure the early completion of the temple.

The Khyber Pakthunkhwa government managed the funds for the same from the Stunt Prevention and Rehabilitation integrated Nutrition gain scheme of the Planning and Development Department.

As per the dialogue, informally called ‘jigra’, the accused have tendered an apology over the attack and a similar incident in 1997. The Muslim clerics have assured full protection to the Hindus and their rights as per the country’s Constitution. Following the incident, India had lodged a strong protest with Pakistan. PTI