International
-Oneindia English Desk
A 125-year-old Sikh shrine in Pakistan’s Punjab province has become the centre of a religious heritage row after parts of it were demolished without official clearance. The damage to Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, formerly Chuharkana, has triggered protests by local Sikhs, a diplomatic response from India and a pledge by Pakistani authorities to rebuild the affected portions.
The gurdwara, located around 70 kilometres from Lahore, is believed to have been built around 1901. Pakistani officials have said a local businessman carried out the demolition without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate required for work involving protected or historically significant structures. The unauthorised work reportedly took place during the night of June 24–25.
Parts of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan, were demolished without clearance on June 24-25, sparking Sikh protests and condemnation from India, while Pakistani authorities pledged to restore the heritage site.
The incident has again drawn attention to the condition of Sikh heritage sites in Pakistan, many of which became separated from the larger Sikh population after Partition in 1947. While several historic gurdwaras continue to attract pilgrims, preservation groups have long argued that lesser-known shrines need stronger legal and administrative protection.
Pakistan government promises to restore damaged gurdwara
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the demolition after outrage from the Sikh community and ordered an inquiry into the incident. The provincial administration has sealed the site while officials examine how the demolition was allowed and whether heritage protection rules were bypassed.
Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs, visited Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib and met members of the Sikh community. He acknowledged that part of the shrine had been demolished and assured them that the damaged sections would be restored without delay. The assurance was aimed at calming protests and signalling official action.
According to Pakistani officials, the absence of a No Objection Certificate is central to the case. Such clearance is required before any alteration, repair or demolition can be carried out on a protected religious or heritage structure. The inquiry is expected to establish who approved, ignored or facilitated the work.
For the local Sikh community, the issue is not limited to reconstruction. Protesters have demanded accountability for the demolition and safeguards to prevent similar incidents. Their concern is that physical restoration may not address the deeper problem of weak enforcement around minority religious sites.
India calls demolition a targeted act of vandalism
India has strongly condemned the damage to the gurdwara, calling it a “highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism”. The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi had taken serious note of the incident and urged Pakistan to act against those responsible.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asked Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation, punish the people involved, restore the damaged shrine and ensure the safety of religious minorities and their places of worship. The statement also said the demolition was “not an isolated incident”, linking it to wider concerns over attacks on minority communities in Pakistan.
The Indian response is significant because Sikh religious heritage in Pakistan remains an emotive issue for Sikhs in India and across the diaspora. Several of the most important sites associated with Sikh history, including gurdwaras connected to Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus, are located in present-day Pakistan.
Religious pilgrimages across the border, including visits by Sikh jathas to Pakistan, are often shaped by diplomatic ties between the two countries. Incidents involving shrines therefore carry both community and bilateral sensitivity, especially when they involve structures regarded as symbols of identity and historical memory.
Why Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib matters
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib is associated with the Singh Sabha Movement, a major Sikh reform movement that emerged in the late 19th century. The movement played an important role in religious revival, education and community organisation, making sites linked to it historically valuable beyond their local congregation.
Farooqabad, earlier known as Chuharkana, had a Sikh presence before Partition. After 1947, many Sikhs moved to India, leaving behind shrines, educational institutions and community properties. Some continued to be maintained, while others suffered neglect, encroachment or disputes over control and land use.
This history makes even partially damaged structures deeply significant. For Sikh groups, a gurdwara is not only a place of prayer but also a record of community life, migration and memory. When such a site is altered or demolished, the loss is viewed as both religious and cultural.
Pakistan has institutions responsible for managing minority religious properties, including Sikh and Hindu sites. However, preservation often depends on local enforcement, political attention and the condition of records. Heritage activists have repeatedly called for better documentation, regular inspections and faster action against encroachments.
What happens after the Farooqabad demolition
The immediate steps announced by Pakistani authorities include sealing the site, conducting an inquiry and reconstructing the damaged portions of the shrine. Officials have also said the restoration will be carried out under government supervision, though the timeline and technical details have not yet been fully outlined.
The case will now be watched closely by Sikh organisations in Pakistan, India and abroad. Their focus is likely to remain on whether the businessman faces legal consequences, whether officials are held accountable for lapses, and whether the restored structure preserves the original character of the shrine.
The Farooqabad incident has turned a local demolition into a larger test of Pakistan’s heritage protection system. Rebuilding the damaged gurdwara may address the immediate harm, but the wider concern will remain until historic minority places of worship are protected before they are put at risk.
