Fake female faith healer gets life sentence for torching girl in Faisalabad

A woman posing as a fake faith healer, who set a girl on fire in an attempt to rid her of evil spirits in 2022, received a life sentence from an anti-terrorism court in Punjab's Faisalabad. 

Judge Muhammad Hussain announced the verdict and imposed a fine of Rs20.2 million on her for causing the girl's death using scorching hot coal and rods.

The fake faith healer, Shamim, was found guilty of murdering Sonia Sultan, the victim, two years ago in Ghulam Muhammadabad, Faisalabad. She faced charges under sections 336B (punishment for harm by corrosive substance) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, based on a complaint filed by the victim's brother on December 7, 2022.

According to the first information report, Sultan was described as mentally vulnerable.

Shamim, who is also the mother-in-law of a man named Waseem residing in the same town, initiated the abuse by applying hot rods to the victim's legs on December 6, 2022. 

Despite the adverse effects on her health, Shamim insisted that a spirit inhabited her, and she would use coal gas (dhooni) for treatment.

On December 7, 2022, the family was summoned to bring coal, and the convict, along with Waseem, held the victim down on burning coal after claiming that a spirit needed to be expelled.

The family, adhering to their belief in such treatments, did not disclose the incident to anyone. The victim, suffering severe pain, eventually lost consciousness, with burns on her eyes, chest, and face.

The FIR mentioned that Shamim and Waseem assured the family that the spirit had been removed and that the victim would recover. The family, trusting them, did not report the incident. When they later revealed the situation, the accused persons threatened them.

The victim was eventually admitted to Allied Hospital in Faisalabad. The FIR concluded that the accused fled the area after being accused by the family.