The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the reported demolition of a 125-year-old historic Sikh shrine in Pakistan, terming it a highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism against a revered Gurdwara. In an official statement, the MEA expressed deep distress over the incident at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Punjab province, and highlighted the failure of local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to take meaningful action as a matter of grave concern.
The Ministry noted that this was unfortunately not an isolated incident, pointing to a pattern of similar reports in the past. It stated that the systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated. The MEA has called upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate the matter, bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice, and restore and reconstruct the demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib at the earliest.
It has further urged Pakistan to discharge its obligations to ensure the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship, and to put a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance.
Reports indicate that portions of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha, also referred to as Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, located in Farooqabad near Gurdwara Sri Sacha Sauda Sahib, were demolished by miscreants in late June 2026. The shrine, whose construction date is inscribed on its entrance gate, is recognised as a protected heritage site.
The incident sparked immediate protests from the Sikh community. Sikh activists and local residents in Pakistan intervened to halt further demolition, forcing the local administration to seal the site and suspend all construction and demolition activities. Authorities are reportedly considering legal action over the incident.
Largely abandoned since the 1947 Partition, the property was allotted by the Pakistan government in 1960 to Indian migrant refugees for residential use, with strict prohibitions on any structural alterations or demolition of the original building. Sikh organisations have alleged that land mafias had earlier razed the main dome in an attempt to encroach on the property, despite repeated complaints lodged over the past four years.
Shabbir Hussain, who has been associated with the preservation of historic buildings in the area, said the demolition violated heritage protection rules that prohibit any structural alterations or demolition of protected properties allotted to refugees.
In India, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of External Affairs, demanding strict action against those responsible and enhanced security for Gurdwaras and Sikhs in Pakistan. Sikh organisations across the world have also condemned the vandalism, urging the Pakistani government to protect and restore the historic shrine, which they describe as part of humanity’s shared cultural heritage that must be preserved for future generations.
