100-year-old Hindu temple demolished in Pakistan’s Punjab, minority groups demand probe

A Hindu temple believed to be more than a century old has been demolished in Pakistan’s Punjab province, triggering demands from minority representatives for an investigation and reconstruction of the religious site. The temple was located in Siraj village of Narowal district, about 130 km from Lahore. It was brought down on August 21. While minority groups have alleged that the structure was deliberately targeted to facilitate the use of its land by an adjoining madrassa, officials from Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) have said the temple collapsed after torrential rains.

The competing claims have now put the spotlight on the condition and protection of Hindu religious properties in the area.

Minority group seeks government action

The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP) has accused local authorities and the ETPB of failing to protect the old temple.


PMMP chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra met Punjab Additional Home Secretary on August 28 and submitted a written complaint seeking action against those allegedly involved in the demolition. He also sought action against officials who, according to him, failed to safeguard the property.

Sahotra has alleged that individuals linked to Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a far-right Islamic political group, were involved in bringing down the structure. He further claimed that after the demolition, some material from the temple was removed, including metal fittings from the shikhar and bricks.

These allegations have not been independently established. The temple itself was estimated to be between 100 and 125 years old and occupied roughly 1,000 square metres of land in Siraj village.

Dispute over temple property

The controversy surrounding the temple did not begin with its demolition. According to Sahotra, land next to the temple had previously been leased by the ETPB for a madrassa. The lease was later cancelled after rent allegedly remained unpaid for years and the premises were not used for the purpose for which they had been allotted.

Sahotra said portions of the property were subsequently occupied by people without legal permission. He also cited a revenue department report that reportedly identified individuals as illegal occupants of the temple's quarters and other sections of the property.

According to him, the ETPB deputy administrator in Sialkot cancelled the seminary's lease rights on January 29, 2026. The order also called for alleged illegal occupants to be evicted and the property to be sealed.

Sahotra alleged that the order was never implemented. He further referred to an April 11 report attributed to the DSP Narowal, saying it showed that police were aware of security concerns around the temple and the possibility that the site could be damaged.

ETPB says rain caused collapse

The ETPB has rejected the allegation that the temple was intentionally demolished. Senior ETPB official Rana Iftikhar told PTI that the structure collapsed following torrential rainfall. He also acknowledged the age of the temple and its historical importance.

Although the temple does not have a specific name listed in official records, Iftikhar said it was an old structure dating back more than 100 years. He confirmed that the land adjoining the temple had been leased for a seminary. However, he said the temple's own land was not part of that lease.

According to Iftikhar, the temple property had not been leased to anyone and any decision regarding its restoration would be taken by senior officials of the ETPB.

Hindu community calls for restoration

The conflicting versions have caused concern among members of the local Hindu community.

Rattan Lal, a Hindu community leader and member of the Narowal District Peace Committee as well as the Pak Dharam Astan Hindu Committee, condemned the demolition and urged the authorities to rebuild the temple.

Lal accused the district administration and ETPB of failing to take sufficient measures to protect the site and remove alleged illegal occupants.

He also said members of the Hindu community were now hesitant to visit the location.

The presence of the adjoining madrassa has added to those concerns, with Lal saying community members were afraid to approach the site.

Calls to rebuild temple in original form

Sahotra has urged the Punjab government to reconstruct the temple in its original form. He also called for stronger protection for Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and Christian churches, including properties located around such places of worship.

Another minority representative, Arya, linked the concerns of Pakistan's Hindu community to a longer history of religious tensions. He pointed to decades of conflict between India and Pakistan, the Islamisation policies of the 1980s and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India in 1992 as factors that have contributed to insecurity among Hindus in Pakistan.

The dispute over the Siraj temple has therefore raised questions beyond the fate of one old building — particularly about who is responsible for protecting minority religious heritage and whether historic places of worship receive adequate security.

For minority representatives, restoring the temple would not only preserve an old structure but could also send a wider message about the protection of religious heritage in Pakistan. As Arya argued, preserving Hindu heritage could help improve Pakistan's image and potentially support religious and heritage tourism.