Brothers booked for occupying ‘Guru Nanak Palace’ in Narowal

Two-storey historic building reportedly has no ties to Guru Nanak Devji

LAHORE: The Narowal Assistant Commissioner directed officials to lodge an FIR against two brothers – Ranjha and Pannu – for illegally occupying a historic haveli known as ‘Guru Nanak Palace’ and for damaging its historic structure.

The assistant commissioner has also recommended that the building be handed over to the Cultural Heritage department while the Auqaf department ascertains whether it has any religious significance.

In the report, the assistant commissioner has highlighted that the two-storey building, which is located in Bathanwala village, occupies two kanals and has a basement. The building was reportedly occupied by Sikhs who vacated the premises after partition and moved to India.

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Currently Ranjha and Pannu, belonging to the Gujjar tribe, are residing in the building. The brothers reportedly sold the structure’s doors and windows before their uncle intervened.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

On Monday, a local newspaper reported that some parts of the building in the Bathawala village of Narowal had been damaged. The doors, windows and skylight had been removed.

Locals have named the structure ‘Guru Nanak Palace’. However, officials from the Evacuee Trust Property Board (EPTB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) have stated that although the building is old, it has no ties to Guru Nanak Devji.

The ancient building is made up of bricks, limestone and sand. Inside, it holds 120 large and spacious rooms, from where the doors, windows and skylights have been removed. Pictures of the damaged building made the rounds on social media where citizens claimed that the site was linked to the founder of Sikhism; Guru Nanak Devji.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Locals claimed that the building is called ‘Mohalan’ and is centuries old, while Sikh pilgrims and Hindus from all over the world come to see it. They revealed that several stories have also been demolished to make way for people’s houses. Locals said that some of the parts of the building have been demolished and others have built houses in their place.

Residents of the area expressed that the Evacuee Trust Property Board has been informed several times, but no one has taken any action in this regard.

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But officials from PSGPC and EPTB have rejected these claims. Sardar Ramesh Singh, former member of the Punjab Assembly and a resident of Narowal said that during the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, well known personalities constructed various havelis in different areas of the province.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

“It is possible that ‘Guru Nanak Palace’ is one of these buildings,” he said. There is no connection between this structure and Guru Nanak Devji, he clarified, adding that EPTB should have a record of the building.

However, EPTB’s registry branch does not have any record of this building. EPTB Chairman Amir Ahmed said that the building is not the board’s property. The deputy commissioner is currently looking into the matter. “After the investigation is complete, and the building is handed over to the board. We will look into the matter,” he said.

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On the other hand, Muhammad Anwer, a resident of the building in question, claimed that several generations have been living on the premises for many years and are not aware of who the actual owners are. He added that the only reason they started demolishing the structure was because it has become damaged and was in danger of collapsing.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Meanwhile, Narowal Deputy Commissioner Wahid Asghar said that the revenue department also does not possess a record of the building. However, the records of the municipal corporation are now being scrutinised, he said.

Former pradhan of PSGPC Sardar Bashan Singh stated that unfortunately, EPTB is unaware about the origins of several properties and does not possess any records on them. “It is possible that this structure falls into this category,” he said. However, a proper investigation will be conducted into the matter, he stated.