Islamabad/New Delhi: A 125-year-old Sikh gurdwara in Pakistan's Punjab province has become the centre of a diplomatic row after it was allegedly demolished by a local businessman, prompting strong protests from the Sikh community and a sharp condemnation from India. The incident has also reignited concerns over the protection of minority religious sites in Pakistan.

The historic Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, located in Farooqabad, approximately 70 kilometres from Lahore, was reportedly demolished during the night of June 24. According to Pakistani officials, the demolition was carried out without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant authorities, raising questions about administrative oversight and the preservation of religious heritage.

India described the demolition as a "highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism" against a sacred Sikh shrine. In a strongly worded statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the Pakistani government to conduct a thorough investigation, punish those responsible, and restore the damaged portions of the historic structure without delay.

"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," Jaiswal said.

He further expressed concern over reports suggesting that local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) had failed to take meaningful action following the incident. India stated that the destruction of the gurdwara was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan.

New Delhi called upon Islamabad to ensure the protection of minority communities and uphold its obligations to safeguard religious freedom. The Ministry of External Affairs also urged Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice and immediately begin reconstruction of the demolished shrine.

The demolition sparked protests by members of the local Sikh community, who demanded accountability and restoration of the historic place of worship. According to officials in Pakistan's Punjab government, authorities took notice of the incident only after community members staged demonstrations.

Responding to the growing public outrage, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed officials to investigate the matter. Subsequently, Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora visited the demolished gurdwara along with senior district officials, representatives of the Auqaf Department, and local administrators.

During the visit, Arora assured members of the Sikh community that the provincial government was committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities and preserving their places of worship. He announced that restoration work on Gurdwara Singh Sabha would begin immediately and ordered an inquiry into the ownership and legal status of the land.

The minister said preliminary findings suggested the property may not have been officially registered as Auqaf land, adding that authorities had been instructed to submit a detailed factual report at the earliest.

However, the proposed restoration has also generated concerns among local traders and residents occupying the area. Many shopkeepers claimed the premises had remained abandoned for nearly eight decades, during which families settled there and commercial establishments were developed. They appealed to the government to provide alternative housing and rehabilitation if restoration efforts require relocation.

The incident has once again drawn international attention to the condition of minority religious sites in Pakistan. While provincial authorities have pledged swift restoration and an impartial inquiry, the episode has highlighted the continuing challenges surrounding the preservation of historical places of worship and the protection of religious minorities in the region.