Islamabad: Pakistani Hindus have been asked not to use a cremation ground allotted to them during the British era in the country's troubled northwest.
The tribesmen in Kohat town of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have refused to let the Hindu community cremate their dead at a ground which was allotted to them more than a century ago.
The Hindus had recently sought permission for cremating their near and dear one in the mountains of Alizai area which was a cremation site before the Partition of India.
However, when a local government official was inaugurating the cremation ground the tribesmen stopped the ceremony saying the jirga will take a decision in this regard.
A Hindu elder on condition of anonymity told Dawn that they used to cremate their dead near the Kohat Toi few decades back, then the military forcibly stopped the practice taking the plea that it demoralised the soldiers who took part in exercises in these areas.
He said that the poor Hindu community was unable to bear the extra burden of expenses incurred on taking the bodies to Attock and then make arrangements for the cremation.
The Hindu community living in Kurram, Hangu, Orakzai and Kohat tribal regions were not allowed to cremate in their respective regions shortly after Partition and they had to carry the bodies to as far as Attock for cremation.
The community wanted an alternative site and had requested the government to provide them a place in the tribal region.
A place for the last rites of the Balmiki Hindu community living in the tribal as well as settled areas was allotted in Alizai, however, the elders of the area stopped the inauguration ceremony on Monday and said no last rights will be performed in the area till the jirga gives consent.
