Locals partially demolish centuries old Guru Nanak palace in Pakistan
Lahore, May 28 (IBNS): In a major development, a group of locals partially destroyed the four-storey centuries-old Guru Nanak palace, once visited by Sikhs from across the world, in Pakistan’s Narowal area, local media reports said on Tuesday.
According to Dawn News report, a group of locals partially demolished a four-storey centuries-old building allegedly with the connivance of auqaf department officials and even sold its precious windows, doors and ventilators.
The building is assumed to have been build over four centuries ago in village Bathanwala.
Its construction comprised old bricks, sand, clay and limestone. There were 16 large rooms in the building all of which had at least three beautiful doors and at least four ventilators. The rooms were constructed with large broad walls with cupboards in them that had wooden doors with flowers carved on them.All the rooms were airy and their walls had small lamp enclosures in them. Diyar wood beams of various sizes were used in the roofs; the wood costs thousands of rupees per foot, reported Dawn News.
The walls surrounding the building had beautiful designs and were intricately painted with pictures of Baba Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism.
The paintings also included those of various Hindu rulers and princes, reports said.
A local resident, Muhammad Aslam, told Dawn News: “This old building is called the Palace of Baba Guru Nanak and we have named it Mahalan. A number of Sikhs from across the world, including India, used to visit this building.”
Another local, Muhammad Ashraf, told the news paper: “The auqaf department was informed about the demolition of the building by some influential persons, but no officer or official took any action or even reached here.”
He also claimed: “Three storeys of the building have already been demolished and new houses constructed. The influentials have demolished the building with the connivance of the auqaf department and sold its costly windows, doors, ventilators and wood.”
ETPB Sialkot zone Rent Collector Rana Waheed told Dawn News: “Our team is investigating the Guru Nanak Mahal Bathanwala. If this palace was the property of Evacuee Trust Property Board, legal action will be taken against those responsible.”
Dawn News further reported that locals demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to take immediate notice of the destruction of this ‘heritage site’ and take action against those who demolished it.
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