A pir or spiritual advisor denied murdering a follower and chopping up his body into pieces with a meat cleaver because he was demanding a Rs60,000 loan back, in an additional district and sessions court on Thursday.
According to the prosecution, Baba Jamal Shah and Shafqat Ali lured Ehsan Qamar Butt to the former’s house, drugged him, cut up his body and dumped it in some fields.
The police said that the accused had confessed to the murder under interrogation and provided information that led to the murder weapon and some of the victim’s belongings.
But Baba Jamal Shah denied all the charges during yesterday’s hearing. The judge asked Baba Jamal Shah 19 questions, to each of which he replied: “Incorrect.” He denied ever borrowing money from Butt or killing him or providing police information which led to the recovery of the murder weapon.
The final arguments in the case will be heard on October 24. Ikhtisham Qamar Butt, the victim’s brother, testified that Ehsan had told him that he had lent Rs60,000 to the pir and would ask for it back so they could arrange for their sister’s wedding. He said that the last time he had seen Ehsan was the next day on March 2, 2008, when Shafqat Ali had called him to meet with the pir.
According to the police, Baba Jamal Shah served Ehsan kheer spiked with a sedative to put him under influence.
He and Shafqat Ali then killed him with a meat cleaver and disposed of the body.
Ehsan went missing and Ikhtisham reported it to Gujjarpura police. One day, he read about an unidentified body and contacted the police. He was able to identify the body through the clothes and some possessions found with it.
The police arrested Baba Jamal Shah and Shafqat Ali on March 31, 2008. Sub Inspector Mazhar Iqbal told the court that during interrogation, they confessed to the killing and told police where it took place.
They also revealed where they had buried the meat cleaver and a bag with Ehsan’s diary, ID card copy, cheque book and Rs400 in cash. Baba Jamal and Shafqat denied the charges.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.
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The 'Pirs' are a figment of the imagination of the fickle minded and jahils. The world has the Quran Kareem and Hadith e Rasool (SM). Read it and understand it. Go to an aalim and a sensible instructor. There are many. You just have to use your common sense, look around and ask questions intelligibly. That's not difficult because one just has to exercise his mind a little bit.
As for this sob, the less said the better. Reading about his audacity shocked me. Answering "Incorrect" to ninteen questions asked by the judge shows his arrogant nature. There is no place for arrogance like his.
Overhaul our judicial laws 'post haste' and hang all these mischief mongers. In fact all the two-bit molvis who preach hatred and bigotry. Only then will there be a semblance of peace and sanity in this 'land of the pure.'
Please accept my Salam.
Today's Pir
Let us wait and see when his followers come out and demand for his release After all a PIR BABA should be immune to any convictions.@Realist: Are you saying that there are non-jaali pirs?
@Realist: r there any real pirs in this world . . .????
Sad... Very sad..