125-Year-Old Gurdwara Demolished In Pakistan; India Condemns 'Targeted Act Of Vandalism'

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 09:22 IST

According to Pakistani authorities, the gurdwara in Farooqabad, around 70 km from Lahore, was demolished on the night of June 24 by a local businessman.

A 125-year-old gurdwara in Pakistan was allegedly demolished by a local businessman, prompting a sharp reaction from India. New Delhi condemned the incident as a “targeted act of vandalism" and urged Pakistan to investigate the demolition, bring those responsible to justice and restore the historic Sikh shrine.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged Pakistan to investigate the incident, bring those responsible to justice and restore the damaged portions of the historic gurdwara. It also called on Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities and protect their places of worship.

“We have seen the deeply distressing reports regarding the demolition of the historic 125-year-old sacred Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He said the reported lack of meaningful action by local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) was a matter of serious concern. Jaiswal added that the incident reflected a continuing pattern of attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan.

What Happened?

According to Pakistani authorities, the gurdwara in Farooqabad, around 70 km from Lahore, was demolished on the night of June 24 by a local businessman.

Officials said the demolition was allegedly carried out without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned department. The matter reportedly came to the authorities’ attention only after members of the local Sikh community staged protests.

Pakistan Orders Restoration

Following the protests, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the incident.

Punjab’s Minister for Minorities Affairs, Ramesh Singh Arora, visited the site on Wednesday along with district officials and representatives of the Auqaf Department. He announced that restoration work on the historic gurdwara would begin immediately.

Arora said the provincial government remained committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities and preserving their places of worship. He also directed the Auqaf Department to investigate the ownership and legal status of the land, saying preliminary information suggested it was not registered as Auqaf property.

Traders Oppose Restoration Plan

Meanwhile, traders operating around the site expressed concerns over the restoration proposal. They said the premises had remained abandoned for nearly 80 years, during which several families had settled there and businesses had been established.

They urged the government to provide alternative housing and livelihood support to affected residents if restoration work leads to evictions.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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