A 125-year-old Sikh shrine, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan, was partially demolished on the night of 24 June by a local businessman who allegedly carried out the work without any legal clearance or court order, leaving portions of the historic structure in rubble. Pakistani authorities acknowledged the destruction only after Sikh residents of Farooqabad staged street protests, drawing fresh scrutiny over the country's protection of religious minorities and their heritage.

How the Demolition Unfolded

According to reports, the night of 24 June saw heavy machinery tear into the gurdwara — a structure built during the Singh Sabha movement, when Sikh identity was being reshaped across a modernising Punjab. By morning, significant portions of the shrine lay in rubble. No warning was issued to the Sikh community that had regarded the site as sacred for generations, and no court order had been obtained before the demolition began.

Critically, it was not the heritage department or the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) — the institution specifically mandated to protect Sikh religious property in Pakistan — that intervened to halt the work. Instead, ordinary Sikh residents of Farooqabad took to the streets, forcing a public confrontation before any official even acknowledged that the century-old shrine was being erased.

Authorities Respond Only After Protest

An official subsequently admitted that the relevant department had failed to take notice of the demolition until local Sikhs protested. The ETPB, which holds custodial responsibility over evacuee trust properties including Sikh shrines, drew sharp criticism for its absence during and immediately after the incident. The belated official response, observers noted, underscored a pattern of institutional neglect toward minority communities in Pakistan.

India Condemns the Act, Calls for Restoration

India strongly condemned what it called a 'highly deplorable' and 'targeted act of vandalism' against the revered shrine. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken note of the 'deeply distressing' reports and demanded accountability.

'We strongly condemn this highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism against a revered Sikh shrine. Its destruction, along with reports of no meaningful action being taken by local authorities or the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), is a matter of grave concern,' Jaiswal said.

He further stated: 'This is unfortunately not an isolated incident, as we have also seen similar reports earlier. The systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated. We call upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice.'

India also urged that the demolished portions of the gurdwara be restored and reconstructed at the earliest, and called on Islamabad to fulfil its obligations toward the safety, security, and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship.

A Pattern of Minority Heritage Under Threat

The Farooqabad demolition is not an isolated episode. Rights groups and religious minority advocates have repeatedly flagged the vulnerability of Sikh, Hindu, and Christian heritage sites across Pakistan. The ETPB, created in the aftermath of Partition to manage properties left behind by evacuees, has faced longstanding criticism for inadequate protection of the sites under its remit. This incident adds to a documented record of shrines, temples, and churches facing encroachment, vandalism, or outright demolition — often with delayed or absent official response.

What Happens Next

India has formally called on the Government of Pakistan to investigate the matter, prosecute those responsible, and restore the demolished structure. The international Sikh diaspora and human rights organisations are expected to amplify pressure on Islamabad. Whether Pakistani authorities will take substantive action — or whether this joins a long list of unresolved minority heritage cases — remains to be seen.