In a distressing incident, a young man tragically lost his life at the hands of a fake faith healer during an exorcism rite in Bahawalnagar, Punjab.
The victim, identified as Zulqarnain from Khai Bodla, Bahawalnagar, sought assistance from what he believed to be a genuine faith healer to rid him of malevolent spirits haunting him. However, the encounter turned sinister as the purported faith healer, Azhar, and his associates subjected Zulqarnain to merciless torture under the pretext of ‘exorcising jinn’, leading to his untimely demise.
Following the horrific ordeal, the perpetrators, including the fake faith healer and his accomplices, fled the scene, prompting law enforcement to swiftly register a case and launch intensive raids to apprehend the culprits.
This tragic incident underscores a disturbing trend of exploitation and violence perpetrated under the guise of faith healing. Unfortunately, such cases of vulnerable individuals falling prey to deceitful practices are not isolated incidents.
Just recently, in Tibba Sultanpur village of Punjab’s Khanewal district, another individual suffered a similar fate at the hands of a fake pir. Set ablaze during an exorcism ritual, the victim sustained severe burn injuries covering 70% of her body. Prompt action by the police led to the arrest of the fake exorcist, Masoom Shah, along with five accomplices, who now face charges of attempted murder and other relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
These distressing occurrences serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for greater awareness and stringent measures to combat the menace of fake faith healers preying on the vulnerable. Authorities must take decisive action to ensure justice for the victims and prevent such tragedies from recurring in the future.
