BAHAWALNAGAR: One of the four spiritual healers, who were booked for torturing a youth to death during an ‘exorcism’ on Friday night and was arrested a day ago, has confessed to his crime, police said.

The prolonged ailment made 18-year-old Ali Zoulqarnain of Chak Sondha, Donga Bonga, ‘deranged’. The family suspected that he was possessed, and they decided to contact local faith healer Pir Zaheer Ahmad Shah of Mauza Sanateka for spiritual treatment on May 5.

On May 8, the family dropped Ali off at Pir’s outhouse, who assured them that within a few days Ali would be freed from the evil spirit and make a full recovery.

On May 9, the Pir informed Ali’s family that Ali’s condition was worsening so they should take him back home. When the family arrived at the Pir’s outhouse to pick up Ali, the Pir told the family that Ali had been killed by evil spirits. While bathing Ali’s body, the family noticed that his body was burnt and severely tortured, so they decided to inform the local police about the matter.

Takhat Mahal police registered the case against the suspect along with three of his unidentified companions on May 9 and arrested the Pir on May 10.

During the police investigation, the Pir confessed that the youth died during exorcism and that it was not their fault. He further told the police that exorcism involves torturing the patient to drive away the evil spirit, and sometimes the patient dies along with the evil spirit in the process.

A local of Chak Saneteka and eyewitness told Dawn that the faith healers had severely beaten Zoulqarnain and when he cried due to pain, they declared it an integral part of the exorcism.

The police said raids were being conducted to arrest three unidentified accomplices of the Pir, who were present with him during the exorcism as per the FIR.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2024