New Delhi: The demolition of the historic 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has sparked widespread outrage among the Sikh community and drawn strong condemnation from India. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of religious minorities and the preservation of their places of worship in Pakistan.
According to reports, the gurdwara was demolished during the night of June 24 by a local businessman without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant authorities. The action reportedly went unnoticed by local officials until members of the Sikh community staged protests, demanding accountability and immediate action against those responsible.
Reacting sharply to the incident, India described the demolition as a “highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism” against a sacred Sikh shrine. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed deep concern over the destruction of the historic religious site and called upon the Pakistani government to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the matter.
In an official statement, India urged Islamabad to identify and prosecute those responsible for the demolition while ensuring that the damaged portions of the gurdwara are restored and reconstructed at the earliest. The Indian government also stressed that the incident was not an isolated case, pointing to previous reports of attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan.
New Delhi further called on Pakistan to fulfill its responsibility of safeguarding the rights, security, and well-being of minority communities, including Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and others. India emphasized that protecting religious heritage and ensuring freedom of worship are fundamental obligations of any democratic government and urged Pakistan to take concrete steps to curb religious intolerance and sectarian violence.
The controversy has also generated significant attention within Pakistan. Following protests by local Sikhs, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the matter and directed authorities to respond swiftly. Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora subsequently visited the demolished Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib along with senior district officials, including representatives from the Auqaf Department and local administration.
During his visit, Arora assured members of the Sikh community that the provincial government remained committed to protecting the constitutional rights of minorities and preserving their religious heritage. He announced that restoration work on the historic gurdwara would begin immediately and ordered a detailed inquiry into the ownership and legal status of the land where the shrine stood.
The minister also instructed the Auqaf Department to submit a comprehensive report after initial findings suggested that the property may not have been officially registered as Auqaf land. He reiterated that the government would take appropriate legal and administrative measures after completing the investigation while ensuring that Pakistan’s historical religious sites are preserved for future generations.
However, the proposed restoration has also raised concerns among local traders and residents occupying the surrounding area. According to them, the premises had remained abandoned for nearly eight decades, during which several families settled there and commercial establishments developed around the site. They argued that restoration efforts could lead to displacement and requested that the government provide suitable rehabilitation, alternative housing, and livelihood support if relocation becomes necessary.
The demolition has reignited international attention on the condition of minority religious sites in Pakistan. Sikh organizations and community members have expressed disappointment over the repeated reports of damage to places of worship, urging stronger institutional safeguards and stricter enforcement against illegal encroachments or vandalism.
For the global Sikh community, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib represents not only a place of worship but also an important symbol of shared history and cultural heritage. The destruction of such a historic shrine has therefore generated emotional responses from Sikhs across the world, many of whom are closely monitoring the actions taken by Pakistani authorities.
