Islamabad — Developers have demolished the British-era World War I memorial on Kuri Road near Rehara village, flattening the site despite repeated objections from heritage authorities and rejection of any relocation proposal, stripping the federal capital of a significant landmark honouring local soldiers who fought in the Great War.
Until last Sunday, the monument stood atop a roughly 40-foot mound after surrounding land was levelled for a commercial project tied to an upcoming housing society. On Tuesday, officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM) visited and found the mound gone, with only scattered blocks of the memorial lying amid freshly bulldozed earth.
کڑی روڈ اسلام آباد پر دوسری جنگ عظیم کی یادگار کو مسمار کردیا گیا۔ https://t.co/OViQULrn6R pic.twitter.com/ur1wjInHsp
— Riaz ul Haq (@Riazhaq) February 4, 2026
Key Highlights
- World War I memorial on Kuri Road demolished.
- Site flattened despite DoAM refusal of relocation.
- Monument honoured local soldiers from villages like Rehara.
- DoAM rejected NOC for move to nearby roundabout.
- CDA ignored DoAM requests for revenue records since 2020.
- Similar pleas for Mughal-era Rehara mosque also unanswered.
- Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi informed; UNESCO visit coincided with news.
- Full report sent for further action.
DoAM had blocked relocation six months ago, arguing the memorial’s purpose was tied to its original location commemorating men from nearby villages who sacrificed their lives. Protection required adding it to Islamabad’s heritage list — a step needing revenue records from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which DoAM has sought since 2020 without response.
A senior Ministry of National Heritage and Culture official expressed dismay, noting the demolition embarrassed Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, especially with UNESCO representatives in Pakistan at the time. A detailed report has been forwarded to the minister for appropriate action.
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The loss removes a tangible link to the sacrifices of ordinary Pakistanis in a global conflict, underscoring the urgent need for better coordination between development bodies and heritage guardians to preserve the capital’s historical character amid rapid urban growth.
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