Authorities have locked and sealed the Ram Leela Temple DI Khan, the historic shrine in Rahim Bazaar, Dera Ismail Khan, days after civil society activists stopped an attempt to demolish it for a commercial plaza.
The sealing was ordered by Assistant Commissioner Hamid Siddiq after public protests against the demolition plan. The Ram Leela Temple DI Khan issue has since grown into a wider debate about the protection of the city’s heritage buildings.
Ram Leela Temple DI Khan sparks joint protest
A joint meeting of civil society activists and members of the Hindu community condemned the demolition plan on Saturday. The meeting was attended by former MPA Kishore Kumar, civil society president Sohail Ahmed Azmi and social worker Muhammad Nauman.
The participants demanded an inquiry into how a protected heritage structure became the target of a commercial demolition plan. They said formal complaints would be sent to the district administration, the National Assembly speaker and the archaeology department.
The meeting also resolved that the temple, which had been standing in Rahim Bazaar for generations, should be preserved as part of DI Khan’s cultural landscape rather than razed for commercial use.
A heritage landmark at risk
The temple is among roughly 400 buildings in DI Khan identified as cultural heritage by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the state body that manages properties left behind by minorities.
DI Khan is home to one of Pakistan’s oldest and most layered urban histories, with Hindu, Sikh and Muslim architecture scattered across the old city. Heritage activists say buildings like the Ram Leela Temple are irreplaceable records of that shared past, and that commercial pressure keeps putting them at risk. The story drew fresh attention on Saturday when Dawn updated its reporting with details of the joint meeting, including the demand for a formal inquiry into the demolition attempt and the decision to approach the National Assembly speaker and the archaeology department.
The district administration has not announced what happens next. For now, the locks on the temple doors hold, and the activists who stopped the bulldozers say they will keep watching. Whether the inquiry they have demanded materialises will decide if the Ram Leela Temple survives as a protected landmark or becomes another heritage building lost to commercial pressure.
Related reading: our travel features on Katas Raj, Kafir Kot temples, the Jain temple at Verawah and Holy Trinity Cathedral Karachi.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Ram Leela Temple sealed?
Assistant Commissioner Hamid Siddiq ordered the temple sealed after public protests against a plan to demolish it for a commercial plaza.
Where is the Ram Leela Temple?
The historic temple stands in Rahim Bazaar in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Who is demanding its protection?
A joint meeting of civil society activists and the Hindu community, attended by former MPA Kishore Kumar, condemned the demolition plan and demanded an inquiry.
How many heritage buildings does DI Khan have?
The Evacuee Trust Property Board has identified about 400 buildings in DI Khan as cultural heritage.
