In a significant victory for the preservation of Zoroastrian heritage in Pakistan, the Sukkur Bench of the Sindh High Court has granted a stay order preventing the demolition of the century-old Mama Parsi Agiary in Sukkur. The order comes in response to a constitutional petition seeking urgent protection and restoration of the historic site, offering renewed hope for one of the few surviving reminders of the once-thriving Parsi presence in Sindh.

Located opposite the fire brigade station near Dua Chowk, the Agiary forms part of the historic Parsi Compound, established in 1923. The complex also includes the Khan Bahadur Marker Parsi Dharamshala and the former Mama Parsi School. Once a vibrant centre of community life, the compound now stands in a state of neglect, threatened by illegal occupation and encroachment.

The petition filed by Shokat Ali Mahar draws attention to the alarming deterioration of the century-old Parsi Compound, citing cracked walls, broken windows and illegal occupation following the migration of Sukkur’s Parsi community. It urges the Sindh High Court to remove encroachments, declare the Agiary a protected heritage monument, initiate restoration and strengthen security measures.

Built in 1923 by prominent businessman Kekobad Ardeshir Marker, the compound once served as a thriving centre of Parsi life in Sukkur. After Partition, the Caranjee family remained among its last Zoroastrian residents before relocating. For over four decades, caretaker Habib Ahmed has reportedly safeguarded the neglected property from further encroachment, despite receiving no formal support or compensation.

One precious relic from the Agiary, the silver afarganyu, donated in 1917 by Seth Phirojshaw Rustomji Mehta, was carefully relocated in 1998 to the Zarathushti Heritage and Cultural Center in Houston, Texas, where it continues to serve as a living connection to Sukkur’s vanished Zoroastrian community.

While the High Court’s stay order offers immediate protection, the long-term future of the Mama Parsi Agiary will depend on sustained legal action and heritage conservation efforts.