Exorcist throws 22-year-old into fire to ‘smoke out’ evil spirit

A faith healer and his disciple have been arrested for throwing a young girl into fire in order to “make the ghost run...

KARACHI: A faith healer and his disciple have been arrested for throwing a young girl into fire on Tuesday, in order to “make the ghost occupying her soul run away”.

Korangi police arrested Munawer and his assistant, Khalid, on Wednesday after the victim Naushaba, filed an FIR (139/10) against the accused, who had escaped after burning her.

Naushaba’s mother, Zarina, said that her 22-year-old daughter had been ill for the past six months. She would jerk and twitch sometimes and was always crying. Sometimes, she even spoke in a strange language that no one in the family understood, her mother said.

It was three months ago when we decided to take her to a renowned faith healer in the area, Zarina explained. “Our relatives told us that he was a very good pir and can solve any problem,” she said.

According to Korangi police, the faith healer was active in the area for the past few years “but we never received any complaints against him”.

SHO Korangi Shakir Ali told The Express Tribune that Naushaba has two siblings and her father died 20 years ago. The accused, Munawar, revealed during initial investigations that he has dens in other areas, such as Shah Faisal Colony. He charges Rs1,000 to Rs20,000 for his services, according to the police.

Naushaba’s treatment at the pir’s den in the Sector 35-C, Korangi, started after her parents paid Rs10,000 to Munawer, who promised to make the “djinn” occupying her soul leave within three months.

One week ago, her family was informed that the ghost has been defeated and would leave Naushaba’s body on July 5. According to the statements received by the police, her family members took her to the pir on Monday, where he started doing his ‘magic’ and asked them to wait outside.

Naushaba told the police that the pir and his assistant, Khalid, took her to a place where they had stored oil. They started a fire in a round ditch. When she was close enough, they pushed her in, she said, adding that her family came to her rescue when they heard her scream but by then her face and one of her hands was burnt.

“We need justice; they should be hanged,” her mother requested the police.

Naushaba is under treatment at the Burns Centre at Civil Hospital, Karachi. Doctors said that she is out of danger but it may take another six months for her to recover completely.

Meanwhile Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmad has condemned the incident. “I have directed the hospital administration to provide every possible support to the victim,” he said, adding that such criminals will be brought to justice.

Psychiatrist Dr Uzma Ambareen of the Pakistan Association of Mental Health believes that Naushaba may be suffering from a dissociative disorder, which has “culture-bound syndromes”.

“The form of possession disorder that she may have is very common to India and Pakistan,” said Dr Ambareen. “Psychiatric treatment may not always help. In fact, pirs may be helpful since the family and the patients have faith in them.”

She ruled out the possibility of Tourettes Syndrome as it starts at an early age and usually involves the patient using repetitive noises and movements. It is possible that she may be schizophrenic but it seems like she is suffering from hysteria, now known as conversion disorder, Dr Ambareen said, adding that patients suffering from psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, respond to nothing but medication.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2010.