Sikh community in Quetta alleges ‘gurdwara building razed’ to ‘construct a mall’

The Sikh community in Quetta, Pakistan’s Balochistan province, claims that a gurdwara building, which previously housed a school, was destroyed to make way for a shopping mall. Minority groups and local civil society in Quetta protested the move, arguing it was done without their knowledge. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan oversees gurdwaras, temples, and other properties left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India during partition.

Jasbir Singh, the Jathedar of the local Sikh community in Quetta and chairman of the Balochistan Sikh Council, confirmed to The Indian Express that the Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha on Archer Road was "demolished and handed over to a private company for establishing a shopping plaza." He noted that the gurdwara was established in the 1930s, and after the partition, it was handed over to a Catholic board, with the St Gabriel School operating from the premises.

Jasbir alleged that the government did not inform or consult the community before the demolition in June. Baloch Sikhs addressed local media in Quetta, expressing their concerns. The Jathedar emphasized that Quetta is a city rich in heritage, yet its preservation seems lacking. He also questioned the loyalty of Sikhs to the nation, highlighting that Sikhs have made sacrifices for it.

Jasbir urged the Pakistani government to address the matter, stating that the ETPB cannot sell or give away religious shrine properties for commercial activities; they can only be allocated for educational purposes. Calls for the property to be returned to the Sikh community have also emerged from India, with former MP Tarlochan Singh writing to the High Commissioner for Pakistan in India, urging immediate intervention.