Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) The Krishna Mandir in Lahore is intact, Pakistan's Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq said, countering a statement by Indian opposition leader L.K. Advani that the Hindu temple had been demolished and minorities in Pakistan do not enjoy religious freedom.

"The Krishna Mandir is in perfect condition. I invite L.K. Advani to visit Lahore and pray at the temple," Haq said during a visit to the temple located on Ravi Road in Lahore, the Daily Times newspaper reported.

The minister said that irresponsible statements by the Indian leadership could affect the ongoing peace process between the two countries, the paper said.

He said Rs.700,000 had been spent on the renovation of the temple only a few months ago.

Krishna Mandir supervisor Pandit Kashi Ram, who was present when the minister met the media, said the government was spending money on the temple's renovation. He added that the government gave Rs.10,000 for Hindu religious festivals, including Diwali, Dussehra and Holi, observed at the Krishna Mandir.

EPTB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Zulfikar Ali Khan also said the Krishna Temple had not been demolished.

Khan sought to contradict a local newspaper report that the board had allowed a private developer to demolish the temple to build a commercial building. "The newspaper wrongly reported the Krishna Temple was situated in the Wachhowali Bazaar in Rang Mahal. The property under discussion and claimed as temple is a disputed piece of land under the EPTB's control," he said.

There was a place named 'Sanatan Dharm Sabha' in Rang Mahal, and even that was 300 feet away from where the developer was constructing his building, Khan added.

The EPTB chairman said the developer, Khawaja Sohail Naseem, was constructing a building according to an agreement with the EPTB. He said the developer had not sold the property, as alleged.

Meanwhile, another temple controversy seemed to be brewing in the country.

Om Prakash Narayan, secretary general of Pakistan Minorities Welfare Council, on Thursday moved a petition in the Lahore High Court for the registration of a case against people responsible for demolishing a Hindu temple in Sooha Bazaar, Rang Mahal, in Lahore. Narayan's lawyer Chaudhry Fawad alleged that the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) (Eastern Zone) chairman demolished the temple and allowed a jeweller to build a commercial building on the site.