Two Women Arrested for Murder After Strangling Pakistani Faith Healer Over Blackmail

In a shocking case of blackmail and exploitation, two women have been arrested for the murder of a Pakistani faith healer in Multan, Punjab province. The women strangled Riaz Hussain with a scarf before disposing of his body, following years of harassment and threats from the faith healer.

According to police, the women had initially sought Riaz Hussain’s services for spiritual healing to remove black magic curses. However, instead of helping them, the faith healer secretly filmed compromising videos of the women and used the footage to blackmail them. Hussain allegedly threatened to release these videos, subjecting the women to continued sexual harassment.

The women, along with the help of their cousin and another accomplice, planned and executed the murder, strangling Hussain before discarding his body. In a swift investigation, the police arrested all four individuals involved in the crime, and a fifth accomplice was also apprehended.

The tragic incident highlights the dark side of faith healing practices in certain parts of Pakistan, where such figures hold significant influence over their followers. Some faith healers use their position of power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain.

Faith healers in Pakistan are often highly regarded by specific communities, where their advice is followed without question. This influence has led to several reported cases of abuse and exploitation. In one such instance in 2022, a pregnant woman was brought to a hospital after a faith healer drove a nail into her head, claiming it would ensure she gave birth to a boy. The following year, another woman died after undergoing a brutal exorcism ritual by a faith healer who claimed to be removing evil spirits.

This latest case shines a light on the growing problem of abuse and exploitation within the realm of faith healing, prompting calls for stricter regulation and awareness around such practices.