MUZAFFARGARH: As many as 25 members of a family passed out on Monday night when they drank milk after mixing into it some ‘curative’ powder given by a pir at Mauza Sabayewala (Jatoi tehsil).

According to FIR, cancer patient Fiaz Hussain requested Pir Shah Sahib to visit his house to provide him with some treatment. On Monday evening, the pir came to his house, gave some powder advising the family to mix it into milk and drink the liquid at night.

The suspect said he did some dum (incantation) on the powder. Twenty-five family members drank the ‘tainted’ milk and fell unconscious at night.

On Tuesday morning, some neighbours got them admitted to DHQ hospital. Later, 16 of them were referred to Nishtar hospital, Multan. The suspect managed his escape.

Jatoi police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.

Deputy Commissioner Qaiser Saleem inquired after the family members at the hospital.

District Police Officer Faisal Shahzad said he had formed a team to arrest the suspect.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018