AI Generated Summary
- Recently, another case has emerged in which a historic gurdwara was allegedly sold for ten million Pakistani rupees by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which is responsible for the maintenance of gurdwaras, temples, and other places of worship belonging to minority communities in Pakistan.
- They stated that the department responsible for maintenance had earned millions of rupees from shops rented inside and outside the gurdwara premises, yet, contrary to regulations, it did not spend any money on the repair or upkeep of the shrine.
- According to media reports, the ETPB administrator based in Hasan Abdal, Attock district, allegedly handed over possession of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Abbottabad, which was built during the Sikh rule, to a local resident named Waheed Bala after reportedly accepting a bribe of ten million Pakistani rupees.
At the time of the 1947 Partition, many religious sites of the Sikh community and Hindu temples remained in Pakistan. To oversee their maintenance, the government established the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). However, it is now being observed that most gurdwaras and temples are either in a dilapidated condition or have been erased altogether, allegedly to prevent the Sikh and Hindu communities from claiming their rights over them.
The population of Sikhs and Hindus in Pakistan has been steadily declining, as migration of these communities has continued since the time of Partition. The land belonging to several religious sites has reportedly been sold, while others have been forcibly occupied by local individuals.
Recently, another case has emerged in which a historic gurdwara was allegedly sold for ten million Pakistani rupees by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which is responsible for the maintenance of gurdwaras, temples, and other places of worship belonging to minority communities in Pakistan. The gurdwara is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Abbottabad.
According to media reports, the ETPB administrator based in Hasan Abdal, Attock district, allegedly handed over possession of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Abbottabad, which was built during the Sikh rule, to a local resident named Waheed Bala after reportedly accepting a bribe of ten million Pakistani rupees. The official also allegedly granted permission to demolish the gurdwara and construct a clothing boutique in its place.
It is reported that the gurdwara was transferred in the names of Waheed Bala’s two wives, Rida Jadoon and Ayesha Waheed. Pakistani Sikh leaders have appealed for the immediate dismissal of the concerned ETPB official and for the preservation of the gurdwara building.
They stated that the department responsible for maintenance had earned millions of rupees from shops rented inside and outside the gurdwara premises, yet, contrary to regulations, it did not spend any money on the repair or upkeep of the shrine.
The main entrance of the gurdwara still bears the inscription “Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha” in Gurmukhi, and the words “Sachkhandi Vasai Nirankar” can be clearly read outside the Diwan Hall. Despite this, the property has now reportedly come under the control of the individual who purchased it.
