ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the demolition of a century-old mosque in Saharanpur city of India’s Uttar Pradesh state, calling the action against the historic Islamic place of worship yet another manifestation of the broader Islamophobic and Hindutva-driven campaign to erase Islamic heritage.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said the demolition of the century-old mosque was another manifestation of the broader Islamophobic and Hindutva-driven campaign to erase the Islamic heritage.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson said the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid in 1992 remains an enduring symbol of this ideology of religious intolerance, prejudice and hatred.
Pakistan called upon the international community to take immediate cognisance of the systematic persecution of Muslims by Indian authorities and the continued desecration and destruction of their places of worship under state patronage.
Pakistan demanded that the Indian authorities must be held accountable for such actions against the fundamental religious freedoms and cultural heritage of all minorities, particularly Muslims.
“The Indian authorities must be held accountable for such actions against the fundamental religious freedoms and cultural heritage of all minorities, particularly the Muslims,” the spokesperson said.
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Statement by the Spokesperson
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 6, 2026
Century-old Mosque demolished in India
On Saturday, September 5, Indian authorities demolished a century-old mosque located in the city of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh amid heavy police deployment.
The demolition was carried out early Saturday morning, with a large police contingent deployed in the area.
Ahead of the demolition, Samajwadi Party lawmaker from Kairana Iqra Hasan was placed under house arrest at her residence in Kairana to prevent her from travelling to Saharanpur.
The demolition of mosques and other Muslim religious sites in India has remained a contentious issue, with Muslim groups and opposition leaders repeatedly raising concerns over the protection of places of worship.
India’s opposition leaders condemn demolition
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kumari Mayawati criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s demolition of mosques across the state and said the government should “immediately halt this.”
In a post on X, she said the government’s ongoing campaign across the state, under which mosques are being declared illegal and demolished “in great haste”, was not right.
She said a constitutional and secular government has a responsibility to respect people of all religions and protect their religious places. “In any case, it is the responsibility of a constitutional secular government to equally respect and honour the followers of all religions, their religious sites, etc., and to ensure their safety,” Mayawati said.
Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi questioned whether the constitutional protection of religious freedom was being applied equally.
“Does the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion no longer apply to Muslims? Why is it that our places of worship are constantly bulldozed on flimsy grounds?” Owaisi asked.
“The mosque committee produced records going back to 1911 to establish its existence. Prayers have been offered there continuously for more than a century. This is the very definition of waqf by user, which is still protected as waqf under law. The Limitation Act does not ordinarily allow the Government an unlimited period to wake up one fine morning and assert possession over immovable property. There was more than a century of open, continuous and public possession. The State cannot pretend that this possession began yesterday; hence the principle of adverse possession would apply even if we concede to the State’s arguments. The mosque came first, the collectorate later,” he said.
He added: “For some people, perhaps the very sight of a masjid causes pain. That is their problem, not ours. Look away if you must. You cannot bulldoze our masjid just because you have an itch. My religious freedom is not dependent on your mercy.”
‘Black day for the people of Saharanpur’
Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood also condemned the demolition, saying that authorities surrounded the area, confined people to their homes and then demolished the mosque.
“Today is a black day for the people of Saharanpur,” Masood told Maktoob.
He said the demolition was not merely about a religious structure but represented “a blow” to the Constitution.
“We will fight this through courts and the Constitution,” he said.
Masood also questioned the legal process, alleging that neither the Waqf nor the Waqf Board had been made a party to the proceedings and that the Limitation Act had not been properly considered.
Masood accused the government of using demolitions and coercive action against Muslims as a political tool.
“The only ‘achievement’ they have is that they shot Muslims, shot them in the leg, demolished their homes, bulldozed them, and broke down their madrassas,” he said.
“We know that this country runs on law and order and not gundagardi,” he added.
