A woman was arrested in Lahore on Thursday for allegedly torturing and burning her children with a candle during a black magic ritual, police said.

The suspect's husband, Simon Masih, filed a first information report at the Qila Gujjar Singh police station against his wife, alleging that she had taken their three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son to her aunt's house a few days ago.

Masih said he had gone to visit his children on Thursday morning and found his daughter tied to a bed, his son tied to a sofa, and a brown goat tied up between them in the same room, as his wife's aunt allegedly performed a black magic ritual on them, burning them with candles and torturing them.

Masih said that he had untied his children despite facing resistance and taken them to Mayo Hospital where they were admitted for treatment.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation Civil Lines division Asim Iftikhar, both children are in stable condition.

The FIR was registered under Pakistan Penal Code Sections 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 328 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years by parent or person having care of it) and 328A (cruelty to a child).

Editorial

Updated 09 Aug, 2026

Makkah agreement

IN the midst of a gruelling war between the US and Iran — currently at a stalemate — the signing of the Makkah...
09 Aug, 2026

Conflicting priorities

THERE is a reasonable argument that the democratic process must go on regardless of prevailing conditions; that...
09 Aug, 2026

FIFA controversy

FIFA PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino is at the centre of a storm of his own making. Even after a crisis meeting in...
Updated 08 Aug, 2026

Danger ahead

PAKISTAN has already paid a heavy human price this monsoon, even as another dangerous spell approaches. NDMA figures...
08 Aug, 2026

Israeli impunity

ANY hope that Hamas’s decision to disarm would lead to a breakthrough has been dashed for one simple reason:...
Updated 08 Aug, 2026

Flawed investigations

An inaccurate record of a victim’s wounds hinders the dispensation of justice. Medical examiners in such a critical area cannot cut corners.