In brief
With impending penalties for suspected supernatural services, practitioners warn that innocent consultations could be criminalized.
In a soft-lit space behind a curtain in Lahore’s Pearl Continental Hotel, astrologer Shahbaz Anjum quietly supports his clients’ desire for guidance. For over two decades, he has refrained from advertising his services. Yet, a diverse range of people—those wealthy and those not, believers and skeptics—seek his counsel, hoping for luck and insight into their lives. "I help people," Anjum insists, distancing himself from black magic, which is often condemned.However, his livelihood, along with that of many practitioners, faces existential threats as the Pakistani government moves forward with legislation targeting occult practices, which lawmakers argue undermines societal values. In March, the Senate approved a bill imposing prison sentences of up to seven years and significant fines on individuals who offer unspecified "supernatural services." This expansive definition has left many astrologers, healers, and spiritual advisors anxious about being swept into a net of accusations, regardless of their actual practices.The debates surrounding this legislation highlight the tension between tradition and modernity in Pakistan, where astrology and various spiritual practices have deep cultural roots. Those in the profession are concerned this law could stem from misunderstanding or fear, deterring individuals from seeking the support they need. They fear that innocent offerings of guidance may instead be classified as criminal under the ambiguous terms of the new regulations. As the legislative process unfolds, spiritual practitioners are left to navigate an uncertain future, caught between their beliefs and the increasing pressures from a changing legal landscape.
