Minor ‘possessed by jinns’ laid to rest

Police say accused are reluctant to give details about the faith healer who prescribed her slaying

SARGODHA: The minor girl, who was allegedly murdered by her father and relatives ‘on the suggestion of a faith healer’ on December 2, was laid to rest in Sargodha on Monday. A large number of people attended the funeral.

While giving details of the incident, Urban Area SHO Awais Gujjar told Express News that a faith healer had allegedly suggested to one-and-a-half-year-old Sawera’s father, Matahir Rasool, that his daughter was possessed and they would have to kill her to dispel the evil spirits.

He added the girl’s father, who was in police custody, claimed his daughter was possessed by jinns. He further stated that the jinns had taken ahold of his daughter and slit her throat, the SHO maintained.

Police said that after committing the murder, the accused took Sawera's body to District Headquarters Teaching Hospital Sargodha where hospital staff was alerted by their suspicious behaviour, he said. They also found that the victim had cuts on her arms. The staff immediately informed policemen deputed at the police counter of the hospital premises, Awais Gujjar mentioned.

The police arrested the suspects, including Matahir Rasool, his brother Mubashir Rasool and two women before shifting them to the police station for further investigation.

The police official revealed that the victim was murdered with a sharp edged weapon. He highlighted that the accused were reluctant to give details about the ‘faith healer’. He said that Matahir had separated from his wife some time back. The police have registered an FIR on the complaint of the victim’s mother Sundus Bibi.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Inspector General of Police have taken notice of the incident and sought a report from police officials over the matter.

Earlier on October 9, a man killed his wife and two children on the advice of a “spiritual healer” in Kabirwala tehsil, Khanewal.

Police said Shaukat Ali, a resident of Mahni Sial Village, went to a spiritual healer Jabir Shah in Multan to find a solution of his problems. After listening to his grievances, the accused faith healer told him that his wife and daughter were allegedly involved in immoral activities and he should murder them.

On the day of the incident, the accused slit the throat of his 55-year-old wife Parveen Bibi while she was asleep. The suspect also killed his nine-year-old son Abdul Rehman and 17-year old daughter Maryam who were sleeping next to her bed.