The National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, led by Prime Minister's Coordinator Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, has announced the reconstruction and preservation of a Sikh dharamsala in Sheikhupura, Punjab, following a wall collapse due to structural weakness. The announcement came during a joint visit to the site with community members.
Background of the Incident
The 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad became controversial after a partial structural collapse and subsequent illegal demolition by a local businessman. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) later clarified that only two adjacent shops were demolished without permission, not the gurdwara itself.
Committee's Assurance and Actions
Ashrafi stated that the committee, representing leaders from multiple faiths and sects, decided to restore the heritage site. He expressed solidarity with the Sikh community and assured that the building would be protected by both provincial and federal governments. The committee stressed that no encroachment on the sacred site would be allowed.
Joint Statement and Participants
A joint statement issued during the tour was signed by several religious leaders, including Maulana Zahid Mahmood Qasmi, Hafiz Maqbool Ahmed, Allama Ghulam Mustafa Haideri, Bishop Kamran, Pandit Lal, and Sardar Palvinder Singh, among others. The statement emphasized that the government would not permit any change to the status or ownership of any place of worship, including temples, mosques, gurdwaras, or dharamsalas.
Rejection of Indian Propaganda
The leaders also rejected what they called baseless propaganda from India, asserting that the Sikh holy site remains under the control of the Sikh community. Ashrafi urged the public to avoid entering the dilapidated building until renovation is complete.
ETPB's Clarification
A day earlier, the ETPB rejected social media reports about the demolition of Gurdwara Singh Sabha, clarifying that the demolition was limited to two shops adjacent to the inactive gurdwara. Tenants tore down the structures without a permit from the ETPB. District officials intervened on June 24, halted the work, sealed the site, and initiated legal proceedings against those responsible.
