PESHAWAR — The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has rejected the appeal of a convict serving a life sentence for desecrating copies of the Holy Quran, practicing black magic, and slaughtering an animal for rituals inside a burial ground.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Babar Sattar issued the ruling. Consequently, the court maintained that practicing witchcraft in Peshawar graveyard settings constitutes a severe rebellion against Islamic principles, domestic laws, and societal morality.
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Direct Eyewitness Testimony and Forensic Evidence Secure Conviction
The landmark 49-page written judgment, authored by Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, detailed the operational specifics of the criminal act detected within the jurisdiction of the Shahpur police station.
According to court records, local citizens, including complainant Abdul Rahim, intercepted two suspects during a routine patrol near the local cemetery. The witnesses observed the men burning pages of the Holy Quran and dripping blood from a wounded dog onto the sacred texts.
Following the immediate intervention, community members apprehended the suspects—identified as Usman and Yusuf—and handed them over to the police. During the initial site processing, recovery teams secured crucial evidence linked to witchcraft in Peshawar graveyard sites, including the following:
- Charred pages of the Holy Quran showing visible bloodstains.
- The weapon utilized in the ritual slaughter.
- The injured animal used during the witchcraft practice.
A local trial court subsequently found both suspects guilty based on this comprehensive forensic trail. While co-convict Yusuf accepted the initial verdict, the primary accused, Usman, moved an appeal before the high court to contest the evidence.
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Judicial Bench Cites Islamic Jurisprudence on Sorcery
Evaluating the appeal, the division bench noted that the prosecution successfully established its case beyond any shadow of doubt. Furthermore, the court incorporated extensive scriptural references from the Holy Quran and Hadith literature to emphasize the severity of the crime.
The written verdict explicitly cited scriptural injunctions stating that sorcerers achieve no success, irrespective of their methods. In addition, the bench referenced a well-authenticated Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) categorized sorcery among the seven destructive sins.
Finally, the court noted that performing occult rituals and practicing witchcraft in Peshawar graveyard locations stems from absolute ignorance and weakened faith. Stressing that such dark practices yield dangerous consequences for public peace, the PHC dismissed the petition and validated the trial court’s sentencing.
