A 125-year-old historic gurdwara in Pakistan's Punjab province was demolished by a local businessman, triggering protests from the Sikh community and drawing strong criticism from India. The incident took place at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad. Reports said the businessman demolished the religious site on the night of June 24 without obtaining the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned department.

The demolition sparked concern among local Sikhs, who protested against the incident. Their protest led the Punjab government in Pakistan to take notice of the matter. India also strongly reacted to the demolition and described it as a serious attack on a revered Sikh place of worship.

India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident and urged Pakistan to investigate it without delay. The ministry also called for the immediate restoration of the damaged parts of the historic gurdwara. India further asked Pakistan to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its religious minority communities and their places of worship.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "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. 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."

India also said that this was not an isolated incident. New Delhi stated that similar reports had surfaced earlier and claimed that the systematic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues without interruption.

Jaiswal further said, "We call upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice. The demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib should be restored and reconstructed at the earliest."

He also added, "Further, we urge the government of Pakistan to discharge its obligations to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship and put a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan."

According to an official from Pakistan's Punjab government, the businessman demolished the historic Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Farooqabad, located around 70 kilometres from Lahore, without obtaining the required NOC from the concerned department. The official told PTI that the authorities did not take notice of the demolition until members of the Sikh community staged a protest.

The official also said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz intervened after the protest and directed the authorities to address the issue.

On Wednesday, Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora visited Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Farooqabad and announced that the government would immediately begin restoration work. During the visit, he was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Sheikhupura, Assistant Commissioner Imran Ali Harl, the Chief Officer of the Municipal Committee, officials from the Auqaf Department, and other government representatives.

Arora met members of the local Sikh community and heard their concerns regarding the demolition. He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had clearly stated that the Punjab government remained committed to protecting the fundamental rights of minority communities and safeguarding their places of worship under all circumstances.

The minister instructed the Auqaf Department to immediately investigate the ownership and legal status of the land where Gurdwara Singh Sabha once stood. He said the initial information suggested that the property was not registered as Auqaf land.

Arora said, "I personally inspected the site and instructed the relevant authorities to submit a fact-based report at the earliest."

He also announced that restoration work on Gurdwara Singh Sabha would begin immediately. He reiterated that the Punjab government remains committed to preserving the province's historic religious heritage and protecting places of worship belonging to minority communities.

At the same time, local traders operating near the site raised concerns over the government's restoration plan. They said the gurdwara had remained abandoned for nearly 80 years. During that period, several families settled on the land and many shops were established in the area.

The traders expressed concern that restoring the historic gurdwara could lead to the displacement of many families and shop owners. They urged the government to provide alternative housing and livelihood opportunities to those affected if the authorities decide to remove them from the site.

The demolition of the historic Sikh shrine has attracted attention in both Pakistan and India. While India has demanded a thorough investigation and early reconstruction of the damaged gurdwara, the Punjab government in Pakistan has announced immediate restoration and ordered an inquiry into the matter. The issue has also highlighted concerns over the protection of religious heritage sites and the rights of minority communities in Pakistan.