File photo of Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan
"Islamabad: Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), state-run council of clerics, which advises the government on religious issues, gave its approval Wednesday to the construction of a new temple in Islamabad for minority Hindus, ruling Islamic law allows them a place of worship.
Lal Malhi, a prominent Hindu leader who is also a member of parliament, applauded the ruling but noted the council also recommended the government not spend public funds directly on the construction of private places of worship.
The decision by the CII comes after the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan abruptly halted construction on the temple in the capital Islamabad in June.
Khan's decision came amid threats from radical Muslims who called construction of the temple a blasphemous act.
Some extremists had vowed to try to stop the temple's construction with force, raising tensions. Khan turned to the council to decide if public money could be used for construction. He had promised Rs. 100 million for the temple's construction.
It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Khan would follow through with providing the funds in light of the council's ruling.
However, the council's ruling left open the possibility the money could be distributed to the Hindu community to use as it sees fit.
Khan, who has promised equal rights for minorities, is expected to issue a formal order to allow the temple's construction.
Currently, there is no functioning temple for Hindus in Islamabad. An ancient temple exists in the capital, but Hindus don't use it for fear of attacks.
About 3,000 Hindus live in Islamabad with its population of more than 1 million, mostly Muslims.
All the four provinces and even in the former tribal areas, Hindu temples existed and members of the local Hindu community went there to offer prayers. It is only Islamabad that didn't have such a facility.