BAHAWALNAGAR A callous man slaughtered his five-year-old son on Wednesday at MecLoad Ganj village, some 50 kilometres from here, allegedly to please a so-called spiritual healer.

Reports said Zulfiqar Khokhar brought his son Awais, a student of prep class, back from his school when no other member of his family was in the house and slit his throat with a knife.

The killer, who was arrested by the police immediately after committing the barbaric act, reportedly said he killed his son obeying the command of his pir. The police have registered a murder case against the accused.