Highly deplorable: India slams targeted demolition of 125-year-old Gurdwara in Pakistan
New Delhi, July 1
India on Wednesday strongly condemned the "highly deplorable" and "targeted act of vandalism" against a revered Sikh shrine in Pakistan while once again highlighting the systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship across the border which continues unabated.
Responding to media queries, the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has taken note of 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," he said.
"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," Jaiswal added.
India urged that the demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib should be restored and reconstructed at the earliest.
"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," the MEA spokesperson stated.
Last month, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had strongly condemned the killing of a Sikh couple who were reportedly serving as caretakers of a gurdwara in Mardan city of the country's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, saying that the incident has intensified concerns over the safety and security of religious minorities and their places of worship.
The remarks came after unidentified assailants reportedly opened fire inside the gurdwara in the Babu Mohalla Khawaja Ganj Bazaar area in Mardan, killing 70-year-old Jagannath and his wife before fleeing from the spot.
Expressing grave concern, the HRCP said, "This incident raises serious concerns not only for the safety and security of religious minorities and places of worship but also regarding the circumstances in which the attack occurred. Reports suggesting that the alleged assailant had been engaged in providing security at the site warrant particular scrutiny and underline the need for stronger vetting and oversight mechanisms in implementing the 2014 Supreme Court judgment on the protection of religious minorities."
The HRCP also questioned the Mardan District Police Officer's (DPO) early assertion linking the incident to a personal vendetta. The rights body said that it remained unclear on what basis such a motive could be established with certainty at the preliminary stage of investigation.
It further called on the Pakistani authorities to ensure that all possible lines of enquiry are examined thoroughly and that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law.
Condemning the incident, a leading minority rights organisation, Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), said that the killings were an assault on the fragile assurances of safety for the country's religious minorities.
"This was not merely an attack on two individuals; it was an attack on the fragile promise of safety for religious minorities in Pakistan. Authorities have described it as a 'targeted attack,' but such language has become routine, almost mechanical, in the face of repeated violence. What remains unchanged is the pattern: minority victims, unguarded religious spaces, unidentified assailants, and investigations that rarely deliver justice. From Peshawar in 2022 to Mardan today, the cycle continues with alarming predictability," the VOPM stated.
The rights body noted that the attack was not an isolated incident but part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of violence against minorities in Pakistan.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is absolutely disgusting. First the caretakers of a Gurdwara in Mardan were killed, now this. India should raise this at the UN. Pakistan's promises are hollow - they can't even protect a historic shrine.
While I condemn this fully, I also think India should focus on its own religious harmony issues at home before pointing fingers too much. We have our own communal problems. But yes, what happened in Pak is clearly deplorable.
The ETPB in Pakistan is a total failure. They're supposed to protect minority properties but they do nothing. This Gurdwara was 125 years old - that's not just a building, it's history and faith. Shame on Pakistan. 🙏
I'm from the UK and this is shocking to hear. A 125-year-old Gurdwara being demolished in Pakistan is a crime against humanity's heritage. Sikhs are peaceful people and they deserve better treatment.
The HRCP statement about this being "part of a broader pattern" is so true. Violence, demolition, then silence from authorities - it's the same cycle. Minority communities in Pakistan are living in fear. India must keep raising this issue.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.