Pakistan reopens historic Lahore gurdwara after decades of illegal occupation

By Ali Raza/Inam Ahmed

LAHORE: Religious prayers have resumed at the historic Gurdwara Chhatti Patshahi in Lahore after the shrine was recovered from illegal occupation and returned to the Sikh community, marking the first time worship has been held there since the 1947 Partition.

Located in Lahore’s Qinchi Chungi Amarsadhu area, the gurdwara reopened after the local administration and police carried out an operation to evict alleged illegal occupants before handing possession of the site back to the Sikh community.

Following the restoration of the shrine, Sikh devotees gathered to recite the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, perform Gurbani Kirtan and Naam Simran, reviving religious activities at the historic place of worship after nearly eight decades.

Sikh leader Dr Gulab Singh, who led efforts to reclaim the shrine, described the reopening as a historic milestone for the community and thanked the district administration, police and other authorities for helping recover the property.

He also acknowledged the role of Additional Secretary Shrines Naseer Mushtaq of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights Ramesh Singh Arora, who also serves as president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), for their continued efforts to restore the shrine.

Dr Gulab Singh appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to undertake the complete restoration and conservation of the gurdwara to preserve its religious and historical significance for future generations.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Singh Arora said Pakistan was the “first home” of the Sikh community and that the government was working to restore more Sikh religious sites across the country.

He said authorities plan to make another 50 gurdwaras functional, adding that restoration and renovation work is already under way on 17 shrines in the first phase, enabling Sikh religious activities to resume at several historic sites.

According to Sikh community representatives, Gurdwara Chhatti Patshahi remained abandoned after the Partition of British India in 1947 before allegedly falling under illegal occupation for decades.

The shrine is regarded as one of Lahore’s most significant Sikh religious sites. It is believed to have been blessed by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, during his visit in 1619. The present structure was later built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, while renowned philanthropist Sir Ganga Ram supervised its renovation and expansion in 1922.

The reopening of Gurdwara Chhatti Patshahi is being seen as a significant step towards preserving Pakistan’s Sikh religious heritage and restoring access to historic places of worship for the country’s Sikh community.