A dispute has erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab province over the reported demolition of a more than century-old Hindu temple, with minority representatives demanding an investigation and restoration of the historic structure.
The temple was located in Siraj village in Narowal district, around 130 km from Lahore. The structure was estimated to be between 100 and 125 years old and stood on approximately 1,000 square metres of land.
Two versions of what happened
The incident has produced sharply different accounts.
Local residents, minority organisations and a political party have alleged that the temple was deliberately demolished on August 21 to make its land available for an adjoining madrassa. They have alleged that people linked to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were involved. These allegations have not been independently established.
Government officials, however, have rejected the demolition claim.
Rana Iftikhar, a senior official of Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), said the old structure collapsed following torrential rainfall. He confirmed that the temple was more than a century old but said the temple land itself had not been leased for a seminary.
Dispute over adjoining madrassa land
The controversy is also linked to land next to the temple.
According to minority representatives, the adjoining property had previously been leased by the ETPB for a madrassa. Pakistan Masiha Millat Party chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra alleged that the lease was later cancelled after rent remained unpaid for years, but that some people continued occupying parts of the property.
Sahotra also claimed that a January 2026 order directed the eviction of alleged illegal occupants and sealing of the property, but that the order was not implemented.
Minority groups demand restoration
The incident has triggered calls for government action.
Sahotra said he submitted a written application to Punjab's Additional Home Secretary on August 28, seeking action against those allegedly responsible and officials accused of failing to protect the temple.
Hindu community leader Rattan Lal also criticised the authorities and called for the structure to be restored, saying the district administration and ETPB had failed to adequately protect the site.
He also said members of the Hindu community were reluctant to visit the location because of the madrassa operating on the premises.
Historic heritage under scrutiny
The controversy has renewed questions about the protection of religious heritage sites belonging to Pakistan's minority communities.
Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums maintains records of historic Hindu temple sites in Narowal dating to the pre-Partition period, highlighting the area's longstanding religious heritage.
For now, competing claims remain over whether the temple was demolished or collapsed naturally. The ETPB has indicated that its senior officials will decide on the possibility of restoring the structure.
