Recently, the National Assembly (NA) rejected a bill demanding an increase in stricter punishments for people practicing black magic.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Choudhary Faqir Ahmad presented the bill last month. He demanded amendments in Section 297A of the Penal Code of Pakistan and Schedule-II of the Criminal Code. The amendments were related to increasing fines and penalties for people who practice black magic.
PML-N lawmaker Faqir Ahmed proposed imprisonment up to seven years and a fine extending to one million rupees.
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“Whoever practices, advertises or provides services for magic, sorcery, witchcraft, or such acts in the disguise of spiritual healing or counseling shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, but shall not be less than six months, and with fine which may extend up to one million,” the proposed Section 297-A (prohibition of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery) stated.
Faqir Ahmed however clarified that the section should not extend to the spiritual counseling provided under the license issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
According to Faqir Ahmed, black magic and witchcraft are serious issues in Pakistan. Consequently, under the guise of counseling and spiritual healing, perpetrators of black magic destroy the social and family fabric. Therefore, he stressed that banning such evil activities is the need of the hour.
However, NA rejected the bill on black magic after referring it to the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs for revision.
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Twitter reaction
Rejection of the bill got Twitter divided. Some Twitteratis posed concerns over the rejection as according to them, black magic is a serious issue that needs attention. They are demanding reasons as to why NA rejected the bill.
جادو ٹونہ، کالا جادو جیسے خبیث عملیات کے خلاف بل کیوں مسترد کیا گیا؟ pic.twitter.com/oEkO7yMJee
— Shah Owais Noorani (@iamowaisnoorani) August 10, 2021
Meanwhile, on the other hand, some Twitteratis appreciated the move. According to them, approving the bill would damage Pakistan’s image. Pakistan would become a laughing stock in the international community if the government begins passing bills on superstitious issues like “black magic” and “witchcraft.”
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Black magic in Pakistan
Some people in Pakistan use black magic to exploit and manipulate others. They also use it to achieve their financial goals.
In 2015, a case emerged in Pakistan regarding a man practicing black magic by mutilating a woman’s body.
As per media reports, Majeed, a resident of Gujrat, removed the body of a woman, which he had found near the bank of a canal. He then beheaded her so he could perform black magic.
The area police charged Majeed under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). However, the defendant argued that Majeed should get bail as the case was not maintainable under terrorism clauses.