- A more than 100-year-old Hindu temple in Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan, was demolished on August 21.
- The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party alleged that the temple was demolished to make space for an adjacent seminary.
- The minority rights group has urged authorities to investigate the demolition and reconstruct the temple.
New Delhi: A more than 100-year-old Hindu temple in Narowal city of Pakistan’s Punjab province was demolished on August 21, prompting concerns from a minority rights organisation. The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP) has alleged that the religious structure was intentionally removed to facilitate the expansion of an adjacent seminary.
The temple was located in Siraj village in Narowal. PMMP Chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra and other local residents have approached the Punjab government’s Additional Home Secretary, seeking action against those allegedly responsible for the demolition and officials accused of failing to protect the site.
According to the details reported by local media, the group submitted its written application on August 28.
Pakistan Hindu Temple Demolition Sparks Minority Rights Concerns
Sahotra claimed that the land near the temple had previously been leased by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to a seminary.
He said the lease was later cancelled after rent allegedly remained unpaid for several years. According to his account, parts of the property were subsequently occupied illegally.
The PMMP has also alleged that an ETPB Deputy Director in Sialkot issued an order in January cancelling the seminary’s lease and directing the eviction of illegal occupants and sealing of the property.
However, Sahotra claimed that the order was never implemented. The allegations have now prompted calls for authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the temple’s demolition.
Call to Reconstruct the Historic Hindu Temple
The PMMP has called for the temple to be rebuilt in its original form. The organisation has also urged the Punjab government to strengthen protection for religious sites and properties belonging to minority communities, including temples, gurdwaras and churches.
The demolition has raised concerns about the protection of historic religious structures belonging to Pakistan’s minority communities. The claims made by the PMMP concern the circumstances of this particular site and require investigation by the relevant authorities.
Earlier Gurdwara Demolition in Pakistan
The latest incident comes after the reported demolition of another historic religious site in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
In June, portions of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad were reportedly demolished. A local businessman was alleged to have carried out the demolition without the required legal clearance or a court order.
The incident led Sikh residents of Farooqabad to protest against the destruction of the historic shrine. Reports said authorities acknowledged the demolition after members of the Sikh community took to the streets.
The two incidents have renewed attention on the protection of historic places of worship belonging to minority communities in Punjab. In the Narowal case, the PMMP is seeking both accountability and restoration of the demolished temple.
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