Milpitas( California )/Lahore/Queta: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has strongly condemned the destruction of a more-than-century-old Hindu temple in Siraj village of Narowal district, Punjab, Pakistan, and has urged Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to order an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said the organisation has separately written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requesting his personal intervention, a transparent investigation and effective protection of minority religious properties. The temple, believed to be between 100 and 125 years old, was reportedly destroyed or collapsed on August 21, 2026. The incident has triggered a dispute over what actually happened. Minority representatives, residents and the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party have alleged that the temple was deliberately demolished to facilitate the use or expansion of an adjoining seminary. The Evacuee Trust Property Board, however, has rejected the allegation and stated that the structure collapsed following torrential rainfall. “The conflicting accounts make an independent investigation essential. NAPA is not prejudging the findings. We want the facts established through a transparent investigation and made public,” Chahal said. NAPA said reports that bricks, metal fittings from the temple’s dome or shikhar and other material were allegedly removed from the site after the incident must also be investigated. The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party has reportedly sought government action against those allegedly responsible and against officials accused of failing to protect the religious site. The controversy has also raised questions about the adjoining property.
According to PMMP Chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra, the Evacuee Trust Property Board had previously leased adjoining land to a seminary, but the lease was subsequently cancelled. He has further alleged that an order issued in January 2026 directing eviction of alleged illegal occupants and sealing of the property was not implemented. The ETPB, meanwhile, has clarified that the temple’s own land was never leased to the seminary. “These allegations and the official explanation should not remain matters of competing claims. The Government of Pakistan has the authority and responsibility to establish the truth,” Chahal said. NAPA has therefore called upon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Punjab Government to secure the site, preserve evidence, investigate the alleged removal of material, examine the property and lease records, determine whether any unlawful demolition or encroachment occurred, and take legal action if wrongdoing is established. NAPA has also urged the Pakistani authorities to consider restoring or reconstructing the historic temple if the investigation confirms that the religious site was unlawfully destroyed. Chahal said the issue should be viewed beyond the immediate controversy.
“The protection of a Hindu temple is not only a Hindu issue. The protection of a Sikh gurdwara is not only a Sikh issue, and the protection of a church is not only a Christian issue. Protection of religious heritage is a responsibility of the state and a test of the rule of law,” he said. NAPA stressed that its statement is not an accusation against any religious community. Its demand is for accountability, transparency and equal protection of minority religious heritage.“We expect the Government of Pakistan to investigate this matter without fear or favour. If the temple fell because of natural causes, let the evidence establish that. If it was deliberately destroyed or its property was unlawfully targeted, those responsible must be held accountable,” Chahal said. NAPA said it has placed these concerns directly before the Prime Minister of Pakistan through its separate letter and hopes the government will respond promptly and transparently.