A 200-year-old Sikh temple that served as a school for the past 73 years was returned to the Sikh community in Quetta, the capital city of Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
The Siri Guru Singh Gurdwara stood empty for a year or two when most Sikhs left Pakistan for neighbouring India after the British partitioned the subcontinent into two separate nations in 1947.
Authorities gave the temple back to the Sikh community after the latter reportedly won a legal battle to have the property returned.
Sardar Jasbeer Singh, chairman of the Sikh Community Committee expressed his pleasure over the decision. “The Sikh community of the province is very pleased that our ancient gurdwara has been handed over to us by the government of Pakistan and the Balochistan High Court after 73 years and now we are able to continue our religious practice there,” he was quoted by Dawn.
Earlier in February this year, the Balochistan government had handed over a 200-year-old temple in Zhob to the Hindu community.
The students who were studying in the school located in the Sikh temple have been asked to seek admission in nearby schools. Officials of the education department said that with the restoration of temple the education of students would not be affected. On an important note, hundreds of girls were admitted to the APWA Government High Girls School that was located in the temple building.
Around 2,000 Sikh families live in Balochistan.
JUSTICE is paramount to ISLAM….
Ertrugul Bey….
Good news….