Murder! Did She, or Didn’t She!

It was a always pleasure for Dr. Khan to come back to Mayo Hospital, Lahore
Pakistan, ---a place he had headed for 7 years, every year in March for his
‘Annual pilgrimage,’ to participate in the Annual Golf tournament of his golf club,
but actually, participation in the golf tournament was only a ‘crutch’ to come here
every year, because his Annual visit fulfilled other pleasures also. It was a
pleasure to meet old friends, and well wishers, and it started a chain of dinners
and get-togethers. It was equally pleasurable, to meet old enemies, and see their
annoyance and frustration, that the old grizzly is not only alive and kicking, but
doing better then before. Dr Khan, after retiring from the post of Principal of King
Edward Medical College, had shifted to UK on an HSMP visa, and become a
Consultant to the WHO, and had started an NGO for the welfare of patients, who
had nobody else to look after them.
Dr Khan was having coffee with the present Principal of the hospital. The
present Principal, was an old student of Dr. Khan, a Professor of Oncology, in his
late fifties, completely grey, a chain smoker, with a deflected nasal septum, which
was not only visible by just looking at him, but even one could tell he had an
obstruction on the right side of the nose, because his moustache on the left side
was nicotine stained, indicating that he was expelling the nicotine loaded breath
from that side. All that smoking was definitely clogging up his arteries in the heart
and brain with cholesterol, but because of the metabolic and hormonal changes,
and the decreased appetite because of the associated gastritis i.e. inflammation
of the stomach, there was decreased appetite, and all these factors contributed
to a lean physique. Being so busy with his office work and then seeing and
operating on his private patients till 1 AM, had only been possible at the cost of
his physical appearance. Instead of having to go to the trouble of shaving every
day, he had kept a beard, not one of those fashionable French beards, or the
exotically designed beards popular with the young ‘in’ crowd, but his beard was
like the unkempt growth of the grass in the meadows. It was about 2 feet long,
and even worse … he would apply scented oil to the beard. Not one of the
pleasant smells like Poison or Brut, but it had the pungent smell of burnt
almonds. It was a surprise how any woman coming close to him could stand him.
His wife probably had no option, and anyway the Principal, Dr. Mirza was unlikely
to have the time, energy, or desire, for a girl friend. Another advantage of the
beard was that it gave him a religious edge and authority. Thus it was a case of
killing two birds with one stone. Now if did not want to drink coke, he would say
‘because the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not drink coke, I do not drink
coke,’ or if he wanted to drink coke he would say,’the Holy Prophet (Peace be
upon him) said, ‘Always replenish your energy,’ therefore one should drink coke.”
Inspite of the lean physique, all the sitting, and no exercise had, had its effect
and the doctor had a small pot belly. His glasses, instead of the modern rim less
type, were the old fashioned thick, plastic type, with a nose piece which rested on
the mid point of the nose, so that half the time, Dr Mirza was looking through the
spectacles, and one half of the time he had to look over the spectacles. When Dr
Mirza had to look through the glasses, he had to screw up his eyes, nose and
face to focus, and when he wanted to look over the spectacles he had to raise
his bushy eyebrows, and wrinkle his forehead. The unruliness of his beard was
equally matched by the unruliness of his eyebrows. Dr. Mirza learned back in his
chair… being careful that he did not lean too far back. He had come to know that
his predecessor had leaned too far, back causing him to topple over and crack
his skull. One can never trust state purchased furniture! The only thing surprising
about that whole incident was that the predecessor had been known to have the
thickest skull, and if his skull could crack, a normal skull would be pulverized into
smithereens.
Turning, Dr. Mirza said to Dr. Khan, “I would love to keeping chatting here with
you as sir as this is the only time I have for social interaction, but the Session
Judge has said that he wants a medical opinion on a female prisoner in the
prison. Why don’t you come with us and we can chat on the way?’’
Dr. Khan asked “Who is the prisoner?”
Dr. Mirza replied, “Very, very interesting case!”
“This lady axed the new bride of her husband, not only in public view, but the
act was caught on the video being taken of the marriage ceremony of her
husband, as this was would have been his fourth wife. This prisoner came, and in
front of everybody, hatched the bride’s skull with an axe. The motive was obvious
that the prisoner, Bakhi Mai, could not digest the fact of her husband marrying
another woman, but the surprising thing is that although this event has been
recorded on the video, but Bakhi Mai, the prisoner, denies she did it. The Judge
has asked the Medical Board if she is insane, because then she will avoid the
death penalty. We are to give the opinion if she is aware of her actions. As you
are aware that in such cases, the government instructions are, that the Principal,
the Medical Superintendent, and the Psychiatrist are the members of the Board.
We are all supposed to go to the Jail and see this prisoner."
"Who is the Medical Superintendent now?" asked Dr. Khan.
"It is Dr. Dodha." replied the Principal.
“Gol Mole?” queried Dr. Khan.
“Yes,” replied Dr. Mirza.
“Is he still as good as before in his wheeling-dealing and under the table
‘negotiations’?” asked Dr. Khan.
“Even better! Before, it was a straight forward percentage kick back. Now it is
cent percent.” said Dr. Mirza.
“In what way?” asked Dr. Khan.
“Let us say he wants to buy a water cooler for a ward. He will tell four or five
people, whom he knows can be ‘milked’, and ask them separately for a donation.
He will then buy the water cooler, and then tell all the donors that what good their
money is doing for the poor people, so actually it is five people paying for one
water cooler.” replied the Principal, Dr. Mirza.
“But that’s not cent percent. At least the water cooler is there.” answered Dr.
Khan.
“This is were his refinement comes in play. Because it is not purchased by
Government money, he does not take it on stock. After a few days he would tell
the store keeper that it needs repair and as he knows a mechanic he should
deliver the water cooler to his residence for repair. After that, the water cooler will
disappear in thin air. People have poor memories unless they are on a witch
hunting safari and you are the witch.” said Dr. Mirza.
While this was going on the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital and the
Psychiatrist walked in. The Medical Superintendent was fifty-eight years old,
short, fat, and bald. What little hair he had were dyed jet black, well oiled and, the
few remaining strands were elaborately brought from the left side of the skull
over the bald skull to the right side to camouflage the shining scalp which was all
the more shining because of the applied mustard oil. The scalp may have lost its
quota of hair, but it was being compensated by the profuse growth on the ears
and in the nose, and Dr. Dodha nicknamed as “Gol Mol” because of his physical
roundness; made no effort to curbor trim this sprouting out from the nose, and
the ears. Moreover, with just a year to go till retirement, Gol Mol Dodha, was too
busy in accumulating his money to have a ‘safe nest’ when he retired. It was
reputed that he had already spent the budget for the next two year, and he had
raised his commission from the normal 20% to 40%, much to the chagrin of the
lower staff, but he had bulldozed their objection with the unpalatable, but
understandable logic, that they still had a few years to make up for these ‘losses,’
but he was retiring in a few months. Whether it was the logic in his words or the
reputation of his vicious tongue, but the opposition had been silenced. It was
known that he should have been awarded a Ph. D. for his vocabulary for all the
swear words in Punjabi.
Dr. Gol Mol, hitched up his khaki pants, gave a big burp, picked his nose, gave a
bovine, rattling cough of a smoker, slumped in the chair and said, “Principal
Sahib shall we go. The Judge is breathing down my neck and wants a report
today. The Zila Nazim (the Headman of the Division) and the Senator of the area,
are with opposite parties. Each wants a decision to their liking. The judge wants
to get out of this cesspool and decide the case on merit for a change”.
The Medical Superintendent had the third member of the Board, the Psychiatrist,
in tow. He was a timid looking man with darting eyes. Not the darting eyes of the
snake, who is on the look out to see where to sink his fangs, but the darting eyes
of the deer who is not only terrified, but also always expecting an enemy to leap
on him. He was about 5-6”, clean shaven, wearing an un-ironed shirt with two
broken buttons, unpolished shoes and shoe laces whose ends had broken, and
as Dr. Khan noticed the heels of his boots were worn, and the right more worn
then the left, going along with his posture which was also more inclined and
stooping to the right. In fact it was reputed that when he took his car to the
mechanic, because it was pulling to the right, he was informed that the car
needed the alignment checked. On this, one of the young apprentices remarked,
under his breath, “I think the doctor is more in need of alignment then the car,”
the good doctor did not hear this, but even if he had heard it, it would not have
registered.
Dr. Ali, the Psychiatrist was sitting, with clasped hands, and hunched rounded
shoulders. His gaunt face had the waxy look, and decreased facial hair indicating
his low testosterone level. When somebody addressed him, it was not only his
eyes which started darting, but he would jump in his seat to face the person
speaking. He was wearing horn-rimmed spectacles that would persistently slip
down from the bridge of the nose to a lower position. Dr. Ali would push it back
up, but after a short time it would slip down again, and this struggle was an
ongoing process. It represented a major part of Dr. Ali’s life. It seemed to him life
was a strife between Dr. Ali and everything, be it shoe laces, buttons which
tended to get broken or the rain or sun. Once when entering the hospital, a
pigeon relieved himself and the dropping fell on the poor doctor’s head, but he
just looked up and said, “OK. You too! Go ahead. Make yourself happy!” He was
a man who would look both ways when crossing a one way street.
Prof. Mirza, the Principal said, “Now that we are all here lets go. You both know
Dr. Khan, he is here to visit his Alma Mater. He can tag along. He is working
mainly in the UK now, and on the way he can tell us what we are missing here.
Last night when there was no electricity, because of the load shedding, and we
were having dinner by candle light, I was thinking that possibly the Deputy
Secretary of USA’s threat that they would send Pakistan back to the stone ages
had materialized”
At this everybody got up and went to the Hospital van, which was to take them to
the Jail.
Dr. Khan said “I am no part of the Board which is to give its decision, but just for
my curiosity could you fill me up on this matter. One who committed a clear
murder and is now denying the fact, that even the judge wants a medical
opinion."
Dr. Mirza, who being the Principal, was the Chairman of the Board started his
narration.
“Bakhi Mai is a forty year old lady, 5’9” and built, not like a cow, but like a water
buffalo. She is normally a very pleasant lady, until she has these funny turns”
“What are these funny turns?” asked Dr. Khan.
Dr. Mirza pondered for some time and then continued. “During these episodes
Bakhi Mai assumes different characters. Her most popular character is that of
Maula Baksh. She assumes a more upright stance. Her voice becomes husky
and like that of a man, and that too a man who sounds more like a ‘badmash,’ a
rogue. She will stand with flaring nostrils, a puffed out chest, clenched fists, and
with wild starry eyes enough to send the shivers down the spine of a normal
mortal”
“That would be quite an asset in Pakistan”, remarked Dr. Ali wryly.
"The way things are going, it may become a necessity." quipped in Dr. Khan.
Dr. Mirza, the Principal continued, “Sometimes she assumes the character
of a small child, who is pleading for love and mercy, and tends to go down on all
limbs, and she may actually micturate in her shalwar (pyjama bottoms). Another
favorite role is that of a Pir, a Holy man. She will start shouting ‘Allah Hoo. Allah
Hoo. Allah Hoo!” And she wants everybody to join in on the chorus. She starts
dancing like a ‘darvesh,’ and she wants to be called Soofi Pir. She starts gyrating
round and round, her hair swirling round her head. It is said that when she has
these attacks not even 5 people can hold her down. She is reported to be very
educated and when she was normal she passed her Masters in Psychology in
the 1st Division. Some people say ‘demons’ ‘jins’ or ‘spirits’ possess her. Others
laugh and say she is just acting, and has taken after her mother, who used to
work on the stage, before she managed to entice her father who was the leading
headman of the area. After these bizarre episodes she normally has a very
pleasant personality. She is likeable, caring and dotes on her granddaughter.
After these episodes she remains in a fugue for some time, and when people tell
her what she did, she cries because she does not remember anything about
these events. Her father is a rich man and she is the only child. She is set to
inherit all his property. Her other relatives know that if Bakhi Mai is hanged for her
crime, they will get all the property. So they are playing subtly to get her
convicted. Her father Chaudary Mohammad Din, is about 80 years and has got
heart disease. The girl that Bakhi Mai butchered, the bride to be, is from the Arain
clan and Bakhi Mai and her husband is from the Rajput clan. So it is sort of a
‘judicial’ war between the Arain tribe and the Rajput tribe. The father of the girl,
Chaudary, has managed to get a hotshot of a lawyer, Asad, to plead her case.
Asad is not only technically solid, but what is more helpful, is that he has a loud
and coarse voice, vulgar mannerism, unkempt and uncouth, and is the Secretary
of the Lahore Bar. All these factors are enough to produce terror in every self
respecting judge, who wants to retain his self-respect. Another feature of these
negative characters of Asad is that they are indirectly proportional to the
soundness of his arguments and ‘soundness’ of his case. He is a good orator
also. He has what can be termed, ’thoughts which breath and words which burn.”
Dr. Khan quipped in at this, “So the defense has entered the defense of
Insanity?”
“Yes. The judge was going to convict her, but the lawyer produced a certificate
that she was insane and not responsible for her actions so this certificate, and
the passage of Rs.5000/- between the Reader (clerk) of the judge and Chaudary,
convinced the judge that an opinion should be asked from the District Medical
Board.” replied the Principal.
Dr. Mirza, who in addition to his other defects, had the reputation for straight
forwardness and a non-cynical mind, which in the Pakistani culture is a big
liability, said, “In Rome do as the Romans do!”
“I think it is the clearest case of a good acting. If she gets away with this, every
criminal would get away with any crime. If my doorman slaps me tomorrow, he
would claim that he had a Temporal lobe epileptic fit, and is not responsible if his
hand flayed out, and I happened to be in the way. He would go scot-free and I
would be the laughing stock of the Hospital.” said the Medical Superintendent in
disgust.
“Let us just give the Medical opinion and not worry about what will happen or not
happen, and we should not try to rationalize our actions.” replied the Principal
soberly.
The driver of the van, Rana, who was also the official driver of the Principal,
taking the cue spoke up and said, “Sir Ji, it is just like what the Imam (in charge)
of the local mosque was brainwashing us with strange logic. He said, “We should
be grateful to Allah that he has not given wings to camels” and when somebody
dared to ask him what is so great about this, the Imam replied that ‘then the
camels, just like the crows, will land on the our mud thatched roofs, and the roofs
would collapse, and we along with our children, would be buried under the
debris.”
Rana, the driver, an illiterate man was known for his wisdom. After all wisdom is
just a little extra commonsense. Socrates had said, “Everybody should marry. If it
turns out to be a happy marriage he will remain a happy man. If it turns out to be
an unhappy marriage, he will become a philosopher!” Obviously Rana did not
know Socrates’ advice, but he had inadvertently obeyed it twice over, in the
sense, that he had two wives, and the puzzle which the neighbors were always
trying to fathom was that with which honorable lady he had the worst quarrels,
which were so frequent. Rana was wise, and unfortunately so wise, that many
times the rationality of his simple straight forward thinking flew over the people’s
incomprehensive minds. They thought him a little odd.
By this time the van had reached the jail. Now the jail was built on the pattern set
by the British, it consisted of a big outer iron gate, and after a corridor of about 30
feet, the second big Iron Gate. Near the entrance there was a midden of rubbish.
Dr. Khan was informed that only one gate would be fully opened at a time, by a
man who kept hanging around his waist all the keys. This principle was adopted
so that the prisoners in case of a sudden break-out would not be able to dash
out. The guard peaked out through the three inches by five inches rectangular
peek hole, and after identifying the visitors, opened the 4 feet by 3 feet small gate
inside the huge iron gate.
Just as Dr. Khan was going to step inside through the small door, Dr. Gol Mol,
always a stickler for status symbol, stopped him and said, “No, this is for the
ordinary folks, we will get the big gate opened’. ‘ We are not supposed to bend.
The whole psyche of the jail staff is to break the prisoner in every way and when
the prisoner goes inside Dr. Sahib, no prisoner can look the warden in the eyes.
They have to walk with bowed heads. This is the only place where whipping is
still legal.”
Dr. Khan smiled at this idea of a little ‘upmanship’ on the part of the Medical
Superintendent.
They were ushered in the office of Superintendent of the jail. He was sitting there
like a Mikado of Japan. He was a huge man about 5’11” with rolls of fat
everywhere. Not a double chin, but a triple chin, and the buttons of his uniform
was doing their best to keep two parts of the shirts together against the belly,
which was more like that of a water pitcher. Dr. Khan had a strong desire to
percuss his tummy, to see how resonant it was. In order to still the terror and fear
in the prisoner, all steps were taken to cow down the prisoner and even, the jail
superintendent’s moustache was dyed jet black and huge. Not the waxed curly
moustache of Willam Qaizer of Germany , but more like that of the bristles of the
grizzly bear. The lineament of his face was characteristic and resembled that of,
‘The Hulk’. He had a clumsy lubberly look, and was wearing a lugubrious
expression on his face. The jail superintendent, Mr. Malik made no effort to get
up from the chair; perhaps of the effort it would have involved, or because of the
fact that he was so entrapped between the armrests, that he would have had
difficult disengaging from the chair. Mr. Malik rang a bell and said, “Bring Bakhi
Mai.”
Bakhi Mai was called, accompanied by three wardresses, built like female sumo-
wrestlers, and the Principal started the conversation, and told Bakhi Mai that they
had been sent by the judge to examine her, if she was mad or not.
Bakhi Mai responded at once, “No, I am not mad. I am perfectly OK. I do not
know why they are keeping me as a prisoner. Everybody said I murdered a girl,
but I swear to you, I did not murder anyone”.
At this she got up and approaching Mr. Malik, bowed down in front of him and
said, “ Sahib, ask them to stop beating me, please have mercy, I did not do
anything wrong,” with this pleading she grabbed the feet of the Jail
Superintendent and started crying loudly. At this two wardens, stepped forward,
grabbed her by her hair, gave her one or two slaps on the back of her neck,
enough to do a karate champion proud, and said, “Step back, don’t go near the
big Sahib”.
Suddenly there was a transformation in Bakhi Mai. She suddenly stood upright,
pushed back the wardresses, and said in heavy words, “I am Maula Baksh, the
terror for the cruel. Unless the Maula (God) wants no harm can come to Maula
Buksh. Don’t you dare lay hand on my billo, (sweetheart).”
All the doctors retreated to the side. The psychiatrist, with added precaution kept
a table in between himself and the combatants. The jail superintendent alone
was completely cool and unmoved by all this. He rang the bell and told the guard,
I think the lady is disturbed. Take her outside and get her settled down”.
The Medical Superintendent shouted, “Stop this acting and settle down.”
Bakhi Mai shouted in the same masculine voice, “You impotent, fat, balding man,
who gets regular thrashing from your wife, and now you want to impress these
people with your masculinity. You misbegotten man, shut up”.
Dr. Khan wondered which one of these adjective best hit the target, but probably
some of them were so true, the Medical Superintendent seemed to go into shock.
The insult nearest to the truth is the most painful.
The Principal tried to incur the fear of Allah Almighty, “Be quiet, Bakhi Mai, Allah
Almighty does not like this.
At this Bakhi Mai replied, “Keep your advice for your wayward wife, you old goat.
Don’t teach Maula Baksh.”
Mr. Malik, said, “Behave yourself lady, otherwise you will be made to behave.”
Bakhi Mai shouted, “I am not a lady. I am Maula Baksh, the Brave. Nobody can
get away with a threat to Maula Baksh. Maula is synonymous with God. No harm
can come to Maula, so shut up fat pedophile”. This was too much for the Jail
Superintendent who was God within these four walls.
Two bulldog type guards, who looked like Mafia hit men, entered the room and
Bakhi Mai was dragged outside. Dr. Khan managed to peek out of the window
and saw that four or five guards had Bakhi Mai stretched out far in the jail lawn,
and thrashing her with a belt.
In the meanwhile, Mr. Malik ordered tea and after half an hour, Bakhi Mai was
brought in wearing a clean dress, but her face was swollen probably from one of
the blows. This time, Dr. Khan decided to take a role in this while Bakhi Mai was
back to her original self. Dr. Khan said, “You are a good woman. We have heard
a lot of things about you and your father; we will like to help you. We don’t want
to harm you. Here take this chocolate. We brought it for you.” Another
transformation took place, this time Bakhi Mai adopted a posture of a small child,
she said, “These people are harming Nanni”. She had a lisping voice of a 3 or 4
year old girl, and she started crawling on the floor of the office. “Please have pity
on Nanni,” and started crying, rubbing her eyes with the back of her clutched
hands, just like a child does. She also started sucking a thumb, as a child will do.
This phase lasted for 5 or 6 minutes. Then, instead of Nanni, normal Bakhi Mai
appeared again.
Dr. Mirza said, “Gentleman, what do you think?”
Before anyone could say anything, the Medical Superintendent said, “She is
normal, it is just acting”.
Mr. Malik said quickly, “Just give me three days with her. I will pull every jin, every
demon, out of her”.
The Principal looked towards the psychiatrist, “What do you think, doctor?” The
psychiatrist started, “Such a condition, a Multiple Personality Disorder does
occur...”
The Medical Superintendent snapped, “Many conditions in the books do occur,
but the question is, is she normal or not?”
Dr. Khan said, “A famous book “Dr. Jekyll and Hyde” is based on this diagnosis”.
Dr. Mirza still reeling from the insults of Bakhi Mai said, “Living in UK has slightly
distracted you from the harsh reality and into fantasy land. Don’t you think this is
just acting?”
Dr Khan replied, “I think the poor lady is quiet sick”. He then asked the opinion of
the psychiatrist.
Dr. Ali gave a little nervous jump in his seat, looked here and there, and said,
“Dr. Khan and Dr. Mirza are both right.” More than who was right, what mattered
more to Dr. Ali was, who was the least dangerous if annoyed. He sensed that the
lady probably had Multiple Personality Disorder, but he was swaying between
self preservation, and against the professional integrity. Just as a mercenary
knows no law, therefore forced with a boss i.e. Medical Superintendent, who had
conveyed the decision he wanted, he replied, “Possibly, she is just acting”….
Everything is possible, Dr. Ali consoled himself.
The Medical Superintendent got up, “As we all agree let us wrap up the decision;
I will send it to you for signature. Let’s get back to the hospital”.
Dr. Khan sensed that great injustice was being done, but he consoled himself,
that he had played his innings. He was not the knight of the round table of King
Arthur.
When they came out of the jail gate, a white bearded gentleman in his late 80’s,
approached them. He was thin, with skin that showed that he was a type of man
who spent much of his time in the sun. He was using a staff for walking, not the
type as a walking stick used by the upper class, it was a 6 feet long stick, he
said, “I am Chaudary, the father of Bakhi Mai. Are you going to save my daughter
from the hang man’s noose”?
The Principal said, “You have to ask this question from the judge. But she is a
very nice lady.” The Principal said trying to be honest and diplomatic at the same
time.
Chaudary continued pleading and said, “I beg in the name of Allah, the
Beneficent and the Merciful save my daughter.”
This did not have any effect on the doctors, because living in Pakistan had
hardened their hearts, but Dr. Khan was definitely moved. He picked up the old
man from the ground, bid the other doctors farewell, told them that he would see
them after the golf match, and taking the old man by hand took him to the shade
of a tree, and sat down next to him on the ground. He said, “I would like to help
you.”
Chaudary replied, “Just like a bird can feel the day is coming even before the
light, I feel that you can help, and if you can save my daughter, I will give you any
amount of money.”
Dr. Khan replied, “No thank you, I have enough money for my needs”.
Chaudary replied, “Ok I will give you my prized Buffalo, the one which was given
the prize for giving the most milk in the fair last year.”
Dr. Kahn just smiled and thought, what his wife would say if he walked in the
house with a buffalo in tow.
Dr. Khan said “Tell me all about Bakhi Mai and let me see how I can help”
Chaudary wiped the tears with his shirt and started “Bakhi is my only child and
was born after a childless marriage of 20 years. I want to tell you one thing which
I have never told anyone before. She was 9 or 10 years old, when her uncle, my
stepbrother, who was 14 years old at that time, molested her. He terrified Bakhi
into not informing anybody, and that son of a whore, continued to molest her for a
few years. I only came to know about this after a long time. I think this incestuous
molesting produced some deep psychological changes. She became withdrawn,
with episodes of sudden outbursts of anger, crying, or laughter. She could mimic
anybody and sometimes, she even denied that she had played the role of a
particular character.”
Chaudary stopped, took a sip of water from the earthenware pitcher, and
continued, “Her marriage with Ranjha, her husband, was happy until Ranjha
started taking herbal medicines from a Hakim, (local doctor who deals in herbal
medicines). I once got hold of a capsule given by the Hakim, got it analyzed from
the Government analytical laboratory, and discovered it was a lethal combination
of Viagra, testosterone and marihuana. No wonder Ranjha was so promiscuous.
Ranjha married his second wife, then the third, and when he was marrying the
fourth, this particular episode occurred. There is no doubt that Bakhi did kill this
whore, but she is not in control. ‘Jins and demons’ possess her. I took her to
every witchdoctor in the area who deal with the evilest black magic but to no
avail. One person made her drink salted water, and then tied her in the hot June
sun, and refused to give her water to drink. This torture nearly killed her, but it
failed to drive out the jin in her”.
Hearing all this convinced Dr. Khan that poor Bakhi Mai was sick and that she
needed help, but in Pakistan if a man climbed to the minaret of the mosque and
proclaimed he was a Prophet he would be stoned to death, and not sent to a
lunatic asylum and helped with proper medications. Now the case of Bakhi Mai
was more urgent, otherwise in a few days she would be swinging on the gallows.
On deciding to help Bakhi Mai, the first thing Dr. Khan did was ring his wife that
he would be in Pakistan for a few more days, only to be told that he should stop
being the good knight, setting all the wrong in the world right, and come back
home, especially because it was going to be the 40th wedding anniversary.

The next day, Dr. Khan rang up Asad, the lawyer for Bakhi Mai, and made an
appointment to see him. When Asad came to know that Dr. Khan could help
Bakhi Mai, he told him to come right away. Dr. Khan told him that the medical
certificate by the panel was going to be unsatisfactory.
Dr. Khan said “I would like to do one more good deed before leaving for the next
world and I believe Bakhi Mai can be saved from the gallows, because she is
mentally sick. If I can live in somebody’s heart even when I am dead, I can say I
will live after my death.”
Asad asked, “How do you plan to help Bakhi Mai?”
Dr. Khan said, “We have to convince the judge and that she is not capable of her
actions”.
“Yes, I understand that, but how are you going to convince the judge?” asked
Asad.
Dr. Khan started elaborating, “I’ve got a plan. It will consist of the following. First
step; will be to get a video of Bakhi Mai having these alters, in the middle of the
night in her cell, when no one is watching her. Thus, proving; she is not putting
up an act, because there is no audience”
“That would be very good proof. But how do you plan to get that invaluable video.
I hope you are not expecting me to talk to the Director at the CIA Headquarters,
Langley, Maryland, USA, and say, “Hi buddy, I want you to focus your satellite,
and zero in on Bakhi Mai’s cell, so that we can see her prancing about in the
middle of the night,” said Asad.
“It’s of the utmost necessity. Necessity of takes away the fear of the act, and
makes bold resolution the favourite of the fortunes, and increases the likelihood
of success. No, I think we can adopt a shortcut. A shortcut is usually a wrong cut,
but in this case it will work. My suggestion is that because of the recent terrorist
activities, and the recent murder of the judges, when they went on a visit to one
of the jails, all the prisoners are being monitored by secret camera. And if we can
get the copies of the footage of the CCTV, and produce it in court, we can show
that Bakhi Mai gets up in the middle of the night, when no one is watching her,
and that she gets these funny spells.
Second step would be, that I would put her under hypnosis, in the presence of
the judge, and bring out these alters in the court, and its associated changes in
the Blood Pressure, and pulse which will prove that the alters are real, because
Blood Pressure and pulse are not under the control of a normal man. Third step,
would be that when I cross examine the Medical Board Members, I am chew
them up and make them commit that such a condition does occur. And finally,
what works best in the developing countries, and also in Pakistan, is to make an
offer somebody cannot refuse, and that means that a subtle offer to the judge,
that if Bakhi Mai gets off, then Chaudary will, as a special thanks to Allah
Almighty, give tickets, all expenses paid, to the judge to perform Umrah
(Pilgrimage to the Holy land).” “The judge is known as a very pious man.”
Asad stood up and said, “Doc, I like you. I have a hunch; we will be able to
pull this off! Let us get our respected tasks clear. The first step will be to get you
in the court as an expert witness. Normally the list of witness is given at the
beginning of the case. But as a special case, the judge can add to the witness
list. Now who will get footage of the CCTV film of the prisoner? We can get a
regular permission from the jail authorities but we will be caught in the Catch 22
situation of the bureaucracy”.
“Greasing the plans at the appropriate level always helps. As I have been
away from Pakistan for some time, my skills in this particular field are a bit rusty,
but perhaps you can do something.” Dr. Khan said.
“OK Doc. My computer operator knows the girl, the guy in charge of
Information Technology Department of the Jail is running after.” said Asad.
After one week Asad rang up Dr. Khan and said “All right Doc, D-Day is
tomorrow! I have got the video. Come to the court and bring your Sunday best.
Clothes open all doors may be true everywhere, but it is all the more true in
Pakistan.”
On the day of the date in the court before the case started, Asad stood up
a said to the Judge.” Your honour, we would like to present another expert
witness, Dr. Khan in the case.”
Immediately the Public Prosecutor objected.” Sir, the list of witness is
given at the beginning of a case. Dr. Khan’s name is not on the list.”
“That is true your honour, but it is within your powers, and his testimony
will ensure that justice prevails.” argued Asad.
In the meantime, very subtly, Rs.500/- passed from Chaudary to the
Reader (clerk) of the court. The Judge, ponderingly looked around the
courthouse, including the Reader, who lowered his eye lids a fraction of an inch,
but it signified everything, and the Judge said finally, “I allow.”
Dr. Khan stepped forward, glad that he had brought a suit with him, in addition to
his golfing clothes. Dr. Khan was sworn in and Asad said, “Dr. Khan, can you tell
us something about yourself, and what you can tell us about the Multi Personality
Disorder which Bakhi Mai has?”
The Public Prosecutor, standing to the left of the dais and not sitting, as in
UK, spoke up, “Your Honor, the prisoner Bakhi Mai does not have any illness,
and is normal, as certified by the Medical Board. My friend, the defense attorney,
says that she has got this fictional disease. Has he changed his profession to a
Psychiatrist, or does he think he is better and more expert than the three Medical
Board Members, who say she is normal?” “The certificate is in front of you.”
Asad said,“This is what we are going to prove; that she is suffering from this
psychiatric disease and that this lady deserves compassion, treatment and help,
and not a rope around her neck.”
And then looking directly at the prosecutor and believing in the maxim, ‘if
you do not have a case, insult the lawyer’, Asad continued “No, my friend I have
not changed my profession, but with so many crazy people, who are passing off
as normal, I think I will have more clientage in that field rather in my field.”
Dr. Khan, feeling that the Public Prosecutor had, had his dessert, and
before giving him time to retort, and to get a psychological stamp off authority
and command, started speaking, “That is a very good question from the defense
counsel. After retiring from the top most post in the profession here, I have
settled in UK, where I manage an NGO, which caters for the unprivileged poor
patients.”
Dr. Khan realized that such publicity would be good for his NGO and more
money will flow in, and as the normal division of money coming in and as it’s
distribution goes; a 1/3rd publicity, 1/3rdon the objective of the NGO, and 1/3rd in
his pocket, he stood to make a lot of money.
“This condition is known as Disassociated Identity Disorder. Previously it
was called Multiple Personality Disorder. In this, the person adopts different
roles. He is completely unconscious of the roles, or his alters, he is playing. Not
many psychiatrists previously recognized this interesting psychiatric malady.” Dr.
Khan started off.
“How common is it?” asked the judge who was thoroughly intrigued now.
“It is uncommonly common. It varies in different countries. In the USA, it is 10%
of all Psychiatric illnesses. And in Turkey it is 14% of all psychiatric illnesses. It’s
prevalence in the general population is 1%.” replied Dr. Khan,
“You claimed it was not well recognized before and now it is more recognized. On
what basis do you make this claim.” queried the Public Persecutor (attorney for
the government), who was still skeptical.
“Because, from 1880-1974, only 200 cases were reported in medical literature,
but from 1985-1995, 40,000 cases were reported.” replied Dr. Khan.
“The lay public is well aware of Schizophrenia, depression, hysteria etc. but are
they familiar with this condition also.” asked the judge.
“It is such a fanciful condition that many stories etc. have been the on the basis
of this fanciful condition.” Dr. Khan explained.
“Can you give examples of some.” asked Asad, encouragingly.
“The famous book Sybil, 1974, was on this disease. The famous book ‘The Three
faces of Eve’, which was later made into an Academy Award winning movie,
starring Joanne Woodward and David Wayne in 1957 is another example, but the
most classical example of the fictionalization of this disease, is the book, ‘A
strange case of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, by Robert Louis Stevenson written
in 1884. If you look up in Google, there are more then, 1,500,000 entries on this
subject.
“This is a very knowledgeable discussion on the subject, but how will you prove
that Bakhi Mai has this disease?” asked the judge.
“I am going to try and bring out these alters in her, under hypnosis right in this
court, and Bakhi Mai, will have the changes in her pulse and blood pressure
according to her alters. A person cannot alter his blood pressure by more then
5mm, or his pulse by more 10, even is he wants to. So if these changes are
produced it will show that there is something else going on.” “Then I want to
cross examine the experts, who are members of the Medical Board.”
At this Asad intervened, “The final thrust into the case of the Prosecution is the
video of her at night in her cell.”
Asad said, “Sir, we would like to present a CCTV footage taken of the prisoner at
night’. He set up his laptop and he had arranged for a small screen so that the
public prosecutor, judge and others could see what was going on. In the top right
corner of the screen was the date and time of the recording. Sometimes they
would see Bakhi Mai, acting as the alter of Maula Baksh, sometimes she would
be the alter of Pir Sain., in which Bakhi Mai would be gyrating around with her
hair swirling around, and shouting “Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo”. In her alter as Nanni;
she would be crawling on the ground with passage of urine. Asad was keeping
one eye on the Public Prosecution in order to foretell any obstruction by him. Just
as the Public Prosecutor was going to speak Asad said harshly, “Don’t speak and
interrupt the recording.” Next Asad said, “I would ask Dr. Khan to bring out these
‘alters’, ‘demons’, ‘jins’ in Bakhi Mai”.
Dr. Khan wanted to bring out the Maula Baksh in Bakhi Mai, and he knew that
Maula Baksh only came out, when Bakhi Mai was threatened because he was
sent as the protector alter of Bakhi Mai. For this Dr. Khan realized that Bakhi Mai,
if under pressure, will adopt this alter, so he had told Chaudary to give Bakhi Mai
a tablet of Amphetamine 2 hours before the hearing. He then approached Bakhi
Mai, who was seated and said, “Bakhi Mai look at this shinning multicoloured
ball.” He dangled the small ball, about 2 inches in diameter, tied to a string and it
was moving like the pendulum of a grandfather clock. Bakhi Mai leaned back in
the chair and her eyes moved side to side with the swinging of the ball.
“Bakhi Mai you are feeling drowsy, and drowsy, and drowsy! Close your eyes and
relax, and relax! Think about your childhood and your dolls. Now I want the
Maula Baksh in you to come out, to come out, to come out. Now Maula Baksh
where are you, Come out.” There was no response. All the audience was
enjoying this and was thinking it is a farce.
Dr. Khan suddenly gave 2-3 jabs to the chest of Bakhi Mai which were pretty
painful. Suddenly Bakhi Mai stood up, pushed the police guard aside and roared
in a masculine voice, “Maula Baksh is afraid of none.”
The transformable was so dramatic that the crowd standing in the court fell back,
a bit terrified and the verse in the thirtieth Sipara of the Holy Quran, beseeching
protection from jins came to their mind and many thought it as a jin, inside Bakhi
Mai.
“Your honor, I would like the Doctor on duty in the courts to retake her pulse and
blood pressure. He took the B., P. when Bakhi Mai came to the court this
morning” said Dr. Khan.
The Doctor came and after taking BP and Pulse, told the Judge, “Your honor, the
systolic BP has increased more than 50 mm of mercury and the pulse has
jumped form 60 beats per minute to 140 beats per minutes”.
Turning to Bakhi Mai, Dr. Khan said, “Alright Maula Baksh” “No harm is going to
come to your Bakhi Mai or to you. Sit down in the chair. Look at this ball and
follow its path. Close your eyes now. Try to go to sleep, try to relax, try to go to
sleep, and when I click my fingers you can allow Bakhi Mai to come out and no
harm will come to her”.
Then Dr. Khan clicked his fingers, Bakhi Mai opened her eyes and asked, “What
happened?”
“Sir, I would like to cross examine the experts now. I would like to call the Medical
Superintendent.” Dr. Khan said.
When the Medical Superintendent stepped forward, he was already sweating,
because he sensed that Dr. Khan and Asad were going to give him ‘pull no
punches treatment’.
“Dr. Dodha after your MBBS, have you done any post-graduation in any clinical
subject” asked Dr. Khan.
“I have done my Masters in Hospital Administration”, Dr. Dodha said proudly.
“But, that is only training and certification in the running of a hospital. After your
graduation and after your becoming a doctor, have you ever been involved or
worked, clinically, medically, surgically or in the psychiatry wards”, asked Dr.
Khan.
“No, I am an Administrator of the Hospital”, said Dr. Dodha.
“In UK, an administrator is a layman. So as far as the management of the clinical
condition of patients, you have never ever had practical experience”, said Dr.
Khan.
“No”, said Dr. Dodha.
Asad spoke up and said to the judge, “Sir, how can we go on the certificate of a
person who has never managed patients medically, and is only responsible for
disposing off the shit of the patients, getting the beds made and getting the wards
polished,”
Asad asked Dr. Dodha, “Here are ten photo copies of the relevant sections of the
ten leading psychiatry books on this condition. You think that such a condition
exists.” Dr. Dodha desperately wanted to escape and taking the path which was
still open waded in and replied “Yes”
“After seeing the condition under hypnosis and the video, is it possible that Bakhi
Mai has this condition?” asked Asad.
Dr. Dodha said, “Yes”
Asad turning to the judge said, “Your honor, kindly note that Dr. Dodha agrees
that such a condition does exist and she probable has that”.
Dr. Mirza was the next witness. Turning to Asad, Dr. Khan whispered, “Let us
deal with him with kid’s gloves. We do not want to raise his hackles
unnecessarily”.
Then turning to Prof. Mirza he said, “Prof. Mirza, these are the photocopies of an
article published by Dr. Noon, one of the most famous psychiatrist in Pakistan,
who was your and my teacher, do you agree such a condition exists. Dr. Mirza
replied, “Yes, I do”.
“After seeing the CCTV footage and her actions under hypnosis, do you think,
she has got this Multi Personality Disorder.”
Dr. Mirza had seen the fate of his predecessor, and thinking prudence is the
better part of valor, said, “Yes”.
The next witness was the psychiatrist Dr. Ali. Dr. Ali was already smarting from
the drubbing he had received from the Medical Superintendent at the time of
examination of the patient, and also the daily drubbing he received from the
Medical Superintendent in the hospital, because the Medical Superintendent was
his boss also; was keen to cooperate and give a verdict which was professionally
correct and honest..
Dr. Khan asked, “After seeing the video footage and her actions under hypnosis;
are you inclined to think she has got Multi Personality Disorder?”
This was the first time that Dr. Ali had been given importance; all the insecurity
and uncertainty took backstage, and Dr. Ali overcompensating said, “Yes, I am
certain she has this Multiple Personality Disorder”.
Dr. Khan felt like going and embracing the psychiatrist. And Asad also realized
that the last nail had been struck in the coffin of the prosecution. Asad felt that
the case had gone on so well, that the offer of the Umrah (Pilgrimage to Holy
land) was perhaps unnecessary, but he felt that it is better to spare at brim than
at bottom.
Asad said, “We conclude our arguments. As you have seen, and as the Members
of the Medical Board, your Honored appointed, have also under oath stated, that
the prisoner is sick and suffering from a medical insanity. We ask that Bakhi Mai
be referred to the Psychiatric prison to be released on Parole, when her doctors
feel she is cured.”
Immediately the Public Prosecutor spoke up, “The Medical Board has already
declared that she is normal!”
“To err is human. They may have certified that she is normal, before all this
evidence was available to them, but after seeing the new evidence, they have in
this very court, said she is sick. So we have to go along with what they have
stated in this court.” replied Asad.
The Judge said, “I will give the verdict tomorrow.”
The next day the judge came and said, “Bakhi Mai is innocent by reason of
insanity, and is sentenced to a psychiatric prison for her treatment”
Dr. Khan was happy this was over and he could hurry back and be with his wife.
While all the handshakes and hugging was going on, he hurried back to the
Circuit House (Official Guest Rooms) and thought he would take a nap before
packing, only to be awakened from a deep slumber by the attendant, ”Sahib,
wake up. There is an old man with a buffalo in tow, who wants to see you. You
had better hurry, because she and her calf have moved on to the Rose beds after
devouring the daffodils!”