LAHORE: The demolition of an over-a-century-old Hindu temple in Narowal has triggered a controversy, with a minority rights group alleging that the structure was deliberately razed to facilitate the expansion of an adjoining seminary, while the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) insists that the temple collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

The temple in village Siraj was demolished on Aug 21.

The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), that works for the rights of the minorities, has alleged that a group of people demolished the structure and removed its bricks, metal fittings from the dome and other material from the site.

PMMP Chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra said he and some locals met the Punjab additional home secretary on Aug 28 and submitted a written application, seeking action against those responsible for the demolition as well as the officials accused of failing to protect the religious site.

ETPB rejects minority rights group’s claim; says structure collapsed during recent torrential rains

Mr Sahotra said the land adjoining the temple had earlier been leased by the ETPB to a seminary.

According to him, the lease was cancelled after the rent remained unpaid for several years and the premises were not used for the purpose for which they had been leased out.

He said the portions of the property were later occupied illegally.

Citing a revenue department report, Mr Sahotra said several people had been identified as illegal occupants of the temple’s quarters and other parts of the property. He also referred to an order issued by the ETPB deputy administrator in Sialkot on Jan 29, 2026, cancelling the seminary’s lease and directing the eviction of illegal occupants and sealing of the property.

“The order was never implemented,” he alleged.

The PMMP has demanded that the temple be reconstructed in its original form and urged the Punjab government to strengthen protection of Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and Christian churches as well as their properties.

ETPB official Iftikhar Rana rejected the allegation that the temple in village Siraj had been demolished.

Speaking to Dawn, he insisted that the structure had collapsed following torrential rains.

“The temple carries no name in our record books. However, it is very old — more than 100 to 125 years old,” he said.

Mr Rana acknowledged that the land adjoining the temple had been leased to a seminary but clarified that the temple’s own land had not been leased to anyone.

He said the ETPB would decide on the restoration of the temple.

The Punjab government also backed the ETPB’s account. In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, it said that during a visit to the site, Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, found that a portion of the temple had collapsed, which the government has committed to restoring.

Note: This report has been updated to include the Punjab government’s viewpoint.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026