Guru Nanak Palace in Pakistan demolished

The historic GuruNanak palace in Pakistan's Punjab has been partially demolished by a group oflocals allegedly with the permission of the officials of Auqaf department. The doors,windows and ventilators of the four-storied centuries old building have alsobeen sold.

The historical palaceof Guru Nanak seems to have been constructed over centuries ago in Bathanwalavillage, 20 kilometres from Punjab, on New Lahore Road. The palace is comprisedof old bricks, sand, clay and limestone which have 16 large rooms all of whichhas at least three beautiful doors and four ventilators.

A local of Punjab,Muhammad Aslam said, "This old building is called the Palace of Babu Guru Nanakand we have named it Mahalan. A number of Sikhs from across the world includingIndia used to visit this building."

Aslam further claimedthat once a six-member delegate from Canada had visited the palace including awoman who carried a large book with information about the historical buildingand they were even elated at visiting the site as if they had found a treasure.

It was further claimedby another local that the Auqaf department was informed about the demolition ofthe building by some influential persons but no officer or official took anyaction or even reached here.

Meanwhile, DeputyCommissioner of Narowal, Waheed Asghar who is in charge of the record of allproperties in the region said that there is no mention of this building in therevenue record and that they are checking the municipal committee's record asit seems to be historical. He also said that he had stopped further demolitionof the building.