Out of the 290 kanal of land surrounding the Tipu Road in Rawalpindi that belonged

to the Sikh community, only two and a half kanal is left with them

The Haveli Bagh-e- Sardaran – a non-functional Gurdwara (prayer place of Sikh community) in Rawalpindi that spans over 149 square feet area, has been rented out to the Punjab Police at a paltry rent of Rs3,500 per month by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) which is responsible to look after the affairs of evacuee properties.

The ETPB has rented the historical place – that houses an old temple as well which has portraits in it that are 800 years old, to the branch of the provincial police that deals in high profile matters pertaining to law-and-order situation. The business hub of Rawalpindi – the famous Raja Bazaar is situated near the Haveli Bagh-e- Sardaran. It is pertinent to mention here that even small shops in the bazaar are rented out at high rates.

Interestingly the small temple in the historical structure is the temple of Vishnu deity which is a principal deity in the Hindu mythology.

The Rawalpindi city is endowed with many historical buildings that reflects different cultures, eras and religions. The monumental structures have the potential of attracting local and international tourism, and renting out the haveli at such a meager amount of money has raised questions over the management’s decision.

An official of the ETPB, requesting anonymity, told this correspondent that an area measuring more than eight kanal of the mansion has been rented out to a branch of the Punjab Police since inception of Pakistan. He said currently this branch of the police pays Rs3,500 monthly rent to the ETBP.

Furthermore, he said some part of the land which is fully looked after by the ETPB officials, is also in the possession of the police branch and it does not pay any amount against it.

Meanwhile, the President Pakistan Hindu Sikh Social Welfare Council, Sardar Heera Lal told Bol News that there are around 550 houses of Sikhs in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and to cater to their religious requirements, there is no operational Gurdwara here. He said that out of the 290 kanal of land surrounding the Tipu Road in Rawalpindi that belonged to the Sikh community after the inception of Pakistan, only two and a half kanal is left with the community which is being used as Shamshan Ghat (cremation purposes).

Lal apprised that the Rawalpindi Medical College was also setup at this land which was originally owned by the Sikh community of Pakistan. Recalling former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Bhutto’s statement at the time of founding the medical college, he said Bhutto assured that the land will be used in educating our youth into becoming good doctors to serve the nation.

However, he regretted that no seats were ever reserved for the aspiring Sikh youths of the country.

He also regretted that Sikh residents of the Rawalpindi and Islamabad do not have a proper place to worship. He said as per the Dharmi (religious) laws of the community, the Gurdwara and Shamshan Ghat should be located near the place they inhabit.