Custodian charged in Pakistan over killings

A MAN seen by devotees as a living saint has been charged with murder and terrorism after allegedly knifing and clubbing 20 worshippers to death at a Pakistani shrine, police said yesterday.

Police are having to bring the case against 50-year-old Abdul Waheed and three alleged accomplices, officials said, because the victims’ relatives have such “blind faith” in him that they refuse to file charges.

The slaughter took place on Sunday at the Sufi Muslim shrine of Mohammad Ali, built in 2015 near the city of Sargodha in Punjab province.

Sufis believe in pirs or “living saints” who can intercede for them directly with God. Ali, the shrine’s first saint, was succeeded by Waheed, the new pir, who is also the shrine’s custodian.

Senior police official Malik Ghulam Abbas said it was strange that even relatives of the dead did not wish to file a complaint.

“They have such strong blind faith in their pir that they say whatever has happened, happened with the blessing of Allah,” he said.

Waheed told police he murdered the worshippers because he feared they might kill him one day, Arshad Abbas, an investigator in the case, said.

Some officials have said Waheed had mental health problems and had used violence on followers previously.

One of the accused was wounded, while the other three were remanded in custody by a local court yesterday.

Police are waiting for a forensics report to determine whether the victims were given intoxicants before the killings.