Came across this article and some other posts on this site about black magic practices in Pakistan. Without a doubt, it is a huge market and all the palmistry, fortune-telling and Pir/Alim advertisements and solicitation in the Pakistani markets gives you the idea of how popular and prevalent this practice really is.
I’m hoping I can get some assistance here: Where can I find some more well-researched and well-documented material related to the black magic market in Pakistan? I’m interested in knowing how much is this industry and all its branches, i.e. palmistry, etc. are worth in terms of $$$. And as this seems to be impacting a significant number of people, why hasn’t the government intervened?
Please do share credible material if you’ve come across it whether articles or documentaries.
P.S. the group or sect of Islam the author mentions in the article from Karachi, i.e. wearing green hats and white outfits, why are they called Ahlus sunnah wal jamah? I thought the ASWJ didn’t have any specific dress codes and the term generally refers to the Sunni sect (?).
According to one article I read, there’s no clause of law regarding evil practices/black magic in Pakistan. There is an institution in Saudi Arabia specifically for combatting black magic and punishing those who practice it, don’t know if we have such an organization. As common as the business is in the subcontinent…is it really prospering? Doesn’t appear as though many of the peers/amils/babas are leading a life of luxury. Maybe one reason it’s hard to crack down on magicians is because they can disappear, loll Just kidding. Actually some of them give the false impression of being religion based businesses…and that deceives the people. As crazy as it sounds…What if the government itself is involved to an extent in occult organizations/practices? You hear such theories about the ones in the west and about it being practiced in ancient but very developed civilizations…so why not Pak? Not saying this is actually the case…just a thought.
"Contrary to their claims, 7 of 10 clients visiting the offices of these black magicians have the intention to harm their enemies and majority of their clients still consist of women.
The incidents of killing newly-born babies, incestuous abuses, excavation of graves, sexual attempts with the female dead bodies, rapes, brutal physical torture administered on spell-bound males and females and theft of shrouds from graves and desecration of holy scriptures and shrines are going unchecked with impunity because of absence of any specific clause of law on evil practices and black magic in Pakistan."
In addition, "Apart from revenge spells,** these black magicians offer different spells on variable rates usually decided according to the financial status of their clients**. These are love spells, spells to change lovers’ mind, protection spell, money spells, job spells, divorce spells, success spells, lottery spells and gambling spells, hex spells and talisman. Interestingly, the price of a revenge spell is the highest and ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 50,000. The price for the spell depends on how powerful and rich the enemy is. "
There’s nothing illegal about any kind of magic in most parts of the world, including US, EU and Pakistan. Although some practices associated with black magic are illegal e.g. human sacrifice, illegal trade of body parts, illegal hunting of birds and animals, possession of prohibited drugs etc. But magic itself is not illegal. Should it be? That’s another debate. How would you prove in the court of law that one was harmed because someone did kaala jaadu on them? Or that someone was scammed because the jaadu didn’t deliver results? Or that jaadu even exists?
As for well-researched data, I don’t think there is any. A lot of it is probably practised discreetly so there’s no objective way of monitoring black magic practices, the market’s worth etc. Even if there was some research, how reliable would it be considering people will probably not tell you the truth. You know they have the same issues with monitoring drug abuse through the conventional, socio-epidemiological methods (surveys, interviews, statistics etc) … They’re not always objective or practical. I just tried searching for some journal papers on black magic prevalence in different parts of the world but couldn’t find any, nor did I find any other statistics upon consulting Dr. Google.
I would think that it’s more common for people to visit the peers who offer help through dua/ibadat or herbal therapies of some sort. I have no data to back this up but it’s merely from my own observation. Either that or people simply won’t ever confess to availing of the black magic services. Anyway, I don’t know if you understand Urdu but here are some interesting videos to watch.
I can list some episodes of an Indian true crime series that I watch but they won’t really give you much statistics either and they’re all about investigations into black magic related murders, including those of children’s… depressing really. Astaghfirullah is all I gotta say.
You can blame the govt all you want but black magic is a thriving business in pk because there is plenty of demand for it. Lack of education and ignorance of true teachings of Islam also doesnt help. The black magicians are using religion to perform their rituals and people dont realize that they and the magicians themselves have deviated far from Islam.
Making magic illegal sounds humorous. Lol. That’s not what I was referring to - more like setting out laws and policies surrounding the fraudsters (including but not limited to magicians, palmists, fortune-tellers, alims and pirs) and their grotesque acts/deeds done in the name of ‘helping people’ or in the name of harming others or ‘removing evil eye’ etc.
In terms of government involvement, I’m confounded how the ‘Pirs et al’ are openly soliciting people in all avenues of the media in Pakistan? To add insult to injury, there are speciality stores and businesses that carry ‘ingredients’ or certain animals just for these purposes. Shouldn’t there be some level of restrictions surrounding this disturbing practice?
The killing of newborns and or excavating of the graves has to be against the law; then why is it still ignored? Most cemeteries in Pakistan include graves that have been excavated.
I’ill certainly watch these videos, Huma. Thanks.
Someone just shared this - if you skip the first few annoying minutes, she sheds light on some fascinating aspects related to this topic, ie people that are oh-so pious and can talk to good jinns to help those who have been attacked by bad jinns. Load of BS obviously.
This is why it’d be useful to know how much money this industry generates, that might help explain why for the most part, everyone’s turned a blind eye.
Im not trying to be biased, but I wonder what it is with British Pakistanis and black magic/peer/faqeer. I say this because one of the TV channels we get on satellite is DM Digital, a Pakistani channel operating out of Manchester. And for about 20 hours every day, they play ads from peer faqeers, both muslim and hindu, all based in Pakistan somewhere, who promise "pasand ki shadi, mehboob ka qadmon mein gir jana, lottery numbers, saas/bahu ko raahe raast pey lana, visa problems, job problems, you name it.
Yes, I have heard and seen some nutcases wasting their precious life time trying to hunt hidden treasures. They usually have a list of items which they keep searching, with a belief that if they can lay their hand on one of these listed object, their fortunes may revive. The list include,
Snake which has two heads.
A copper utensil which has power to attract a grain of rice.
A white owl
They are always ready to pay millions for any such object, but never get it.
Just kidding. Actually some of them give the false impression of being religion based businesses…and that deceives the people. As crazy as it sounds…What if the government itself is involved to an extent in occult organizations/practices? You hear such theories about the ones in the west and about it being practiced in ancient but very developed civilizations…so why not Pak? Not saying this is actually the case…just a thought.
