Historic 125-year-old Gurdwara demolished in Pakistan's Punjab, Sikh community protests

A 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan's Punjab province, was allegedly demolished by a local businessman, triggering protests from the Sikh community and widespread condemnation.

According to officials, the demolition was carried out without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned authorities, prompting demands for accountability and restoration of the historic shrine.

Members of the local Sikh community staged protests, expressing outrage over the destruction of the heritage site, which holds significant religious and historical importance.

Following the protests, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora visited the site along with district officials and assured the community that the gurdwara would be rebuilt. Authorities have also initiated an inquiry into the demolition and are examining possible legal action against those responsible.

India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a "highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism" against a revered Sikh shrine.

The ministry urged the Pakistani government to investigate the matter, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure the protection and preservation of religious sites belonging to minority communities.