<\/p>\n
I’ve witnessed a number of “exorcisms” in my day. They’re supremely uncomfortable, strange to behold, and rather unbelievable. Imagine a dude standing with his arms upraised one minute, the next he’s flung himself on the floor, is writhing, yelling, “I want JEEEEsus” while surrounded by Sans-a-belt wearing men praying over him.<\/p>\n
This process can take a long time, so the audience often evaporated while the men “work on” the poor possessed dude. The long-suffering piano player just kept playing, on and on, until she eventually left.<\/p>\n
While the exorcisms I’ve witnessed were loud, none were what I’d call violent. I saw plenty of exaggerated pointing, yelling, perhaps some hitting, but what this girl went through was beyond imagination.<\/p>\n
\nA teenager was tortured to death by a pir during \u2018exorcism\u2019 on Friday in a Cheecha Watni village.<\/div>\nThe report of an autopsy performed on Salma, 13, stated that she had died from suffocation. It said the girl\u2019s breathing was hampered by blocking her nostrils with cotton buds and holding her mouth shut.<\/p>\n
The autopsy, carried out at Cheechwatni tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital, confirmed that her skin was burnt with a hot iron rod. The report said there were bruises on the girl\u2019s arms, face and chest.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While I can see how these events can escalate, I can’t imagine a parent, sibling, relative, friend, neighbor… anyone… could watch something like this and not intervene.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pir said we could take her away and warned us against uncovering her body, wrapped from head to toe in a piece of white cloth,\u201d he added.
\nHe said the pir immediately left the room afterwards. \u201cHe had fled by the time we found out that she was dead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\nHussain said the girl was tied to a charpoy and burned with a heated iron rod. He said the pir had poured red chilli powder on parts of the girl\u2019s body before burning them with the rod. He said the parents were made to leave the room after midnight. \u201cHe told us to wait outside. He said it was not safe in the room,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Khursheed Bibi said the girl had frequently complained of body aches and at times could not speak properly. She said they were certain she had been possessed as several doctors had failed to cure her illness.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n