BAHAWALPUR, Jan 6: A man sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court of Ahmadpur East for burning a copy of holy Quran was a black magician.

According to investigation officer ASI Rana Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Ishaq, 35, was arrested from a mosque in Uch Sharif, Mohallah Qadirabad, by area people red-handed on Feb 4, 2010.

He said during interrogation Ishaq had confessed to burning some pages of the holy book for it was part of his black magic.

Before coming to the mosque, the ASI said Ishaq had performed 40-day seclusion. “After his arrest Ishaq repented his act and sought pardon,” the investigation officer said.

Malik Riaz Ahmed Khokhar, additional district and sessions judge, Ahmedpur East, heard the case and on Wednesday awarded him life imprisonment under the blasphemy law.

ELECTED: The election board of the Bahawalpur District Bar Association has declared that four candidates have been elected unopposed. They are: VP Muhammad Afzal, finance secretary Muhammad Azam, press secretary Amjad Ali and auditor Muhammad Wasim.

The polling for remaining seats is scheduled for Jan 15.

Meanwhile, election board chairman Ahmed Nadeem Arshad has asked candidates and their supporters to follow election rules enforced by the Punjab Bar Council.