ISLAMABAD: The minority

has protested the occupation of a temple in Punjab province, prompting the authorities on Sunday to take steps to "resolve" the sensitive issue.

More than 30 members of the Hindu community from Zafarwal sub-district participated in the protest against the occupation of the temple. Paul Bhatti, minister-in-charge of national harmony, expressed concern at a protest by Hindus in front of the

for repossession of the temple at Zafarwal in Narowal district.

He directed concerned authorities to take up the matter and "resolve it at the earliest". "The government is committed to safeguard places of worship of minorities in the country and all possible steps are being taken for care and maintenance of these places...No one would be allowed to occupy the worship places of the minorities," Bhatti said in a statement.

Bhatti, who is a Christian, said, "We should learn to respect faiths and worship places of each other and demonstrate tolerance to bring peace in the country, aimed at promoting interfaith harmony as all the religions are an integral part of society."