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Ashqar Deozaad
In the Hamzanama, when Ameer Hamza returns from
Koh-e-Kaaf to the mortal realm, Ashqar Deozaad
accompanies him. This jet-black equine then gallops
alongside the Ameer up until he conquers the Tilism-e-
Hoshruba.
Ashqar was also the name of the steed of the great
Khalid bin Walid, one of the most accomplished generals
in history.

Al Ana
In Balochi folklore, Al Ana is believed to be the daughter
of Iblis (Satan). She attacks women who are expecting
or in labour, new mothers, and infants. Newborn babies
are not left unattended, and sharp, iron objects are often
placed near them to guard against her.
Legend has it that a hunter came across a woman in the
wilderness, holding a liver in her hand. It was Al. He
fought her and forced her to return the liver to the victim
and kept Al prisoner and in his service for 7 years, during
which women were safe during childbirth. In another
story, she chewed on the legs of her brother’s horse, for
she could not find babies, or women.
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Asuras
The Asuras often works with the Rakshasas, to drink up
the blood of their prey, fresh corpses of humans and
animals. The chief of these monstrous beings is Ravana,
and his sister, Surpankha. The demon exists in Hinduism
as well Buddhism, we do not know if lived on in collective
memory from Pakistan’s Buddhist era during the
Gandhara civilisation or were adopted from Hinduism.
Baital
Azdaha Punjabi folklore describes it as a sinister entity with the
A cross between a snake and a dragon, it often has scaly eerie power to possess the lifeless. Those who die
skin and wings. Folklore describes their favourite unnatural deaths, particularly at a young age, and do
activities to be guarding treasure, attacking cities, and not receive their last rites are most at risk of turning into
preventing people from accessing lakes. Legend has it a Baital.
that the only way to destroy Azdaha is to pierce the An Indian film features the demon, in which the storyline
insides of its mouth. revolves around a construction company forcing open
an ancient tunnel closed down by villagers. Hell breaks
lose as an East India Company officer and his regiment
of Redcoats killed in that very tunnel find themselves
free (and Baital-fied), and go on an assault spree in the
village. It is perhaps why funerals are always serious
business, may it be West Punjab or East Punjab.

Balaa
She roams in the forests, and other desolate roads after
nightfall. In Punjabi, Hindko and Pashto folklore, it often
appears as a young maiden, or an old woman, in
distress, asking for help. Brahui folklore suggests that
she asks travellers to look for lice in her head. If they
refuse, she instantly kills them.
Banbudda Bhau
In Kashmiri folklore, the Banbudda is a harmless shape- The Bhau is said to be a tall, slender man who is used as
shifter which enjoys playing tricks. However, giving away a personality to scare children. He carries a big bag with
Sadqah (charity) is advised, should one encounter it. him and is said to take away children who are awake
beyond their bedtime. He lives alongside the Jinns and
Banshee Churails.
The only Banshee to be found in Pakistani folklore lives in

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the valley of Shoghort in Chitral. An ancient fortress is
believed to be her home. In literature covering more
than a century, it has been noted by the inhabitants of
the fort that she wails every time a king is about to die.
It is also believed that she might be the fairy daughter of
one of the first Kings of the Katoor Dynasty known as
Mohtaram Shah Katur, who died nearly three centuries
ago, who comes down to the old fort to wail and weep on
Chumur Deki
the account of her people and her father’s kingdom.
The steed is believed to have iron hooves. It can cover a
mile’s distance in a single jump. Some legends also
Barzangi
suggest that it breathes fire. It was the equine
In Khowar folklore, the Barzangi is associated to extreme
companion of choice for Shri Badat, the Cannibal King of
rainfall, hailstorms and blizzards. It is believed that its
Gilgit, who was eventually overthrown by his daughter,
name comes from Persian words ‘barez’, high or
and the Fairy Prince, Azur Jamshed.
distinctive, and ‘zangi’, meaning dark, giving it a literal
title of the “Dark Giant”.
It is quick on its feet and lives in desolate, remote areas.
Lore suggests that it can devour a man before a drop of
blood has a chance to stain the ground. It can only be
beaten if it is decapaciated – however, it can grow a
new head seven times. R. R. Rakhimov explains that the
Tajiks believe that its presence is signalled by
earthquakes.
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Dhat
In Balochi lore, it frequents desolate roads, meeting
travellers as a child or a lamb. Legend has it that if
people try to take the lamb along, two of its hooves stay
in place, and its body begins to stretch. Lore also
suggests that when people engage with the child, its feet
turn into hooves, and its voice turns demonic. Tales
about it also exist in Pashto lore.
Deo

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Pashto, and languages East of the Indus refer to them as
"Deo” (or Deozaat in plural), whilst languages West have
retained their original name in Persian – Div (in Pashto, it
varies with dialect). They are entrenched in an eternal
war against the peris, and resent humankind. They
inhabit all that is desolate: forests, mountains, deserts, or
even ruins. Known for their perpetual rage, they do not
take kindly to those who dare cross their path.
Farishta
Deo Safed The belief in the Angels is both cultural and religious for
The King of the Deozaat, he is featured in several Muslim tradition mandates belief in the Angels. Over
legends, sometimes as the hero, sometimes as the time, they have been woven into local folklore. In
villain. In the Shahnameh, he destroys the forces of Kay Balochistan, oral tradition suggests that Hazrat Khizar
Kavus, by conjuring a storm using magic. In another tale, (A) and Hazrat Ilyas appear as angels to guide lost
he helps Prince Behram win back his fairy-bride, who travellers at sea and in the deserts respectively,
has been imprisoned by her father for marrying a guarding them until they find their way home.
mortal. In some iterations of Saif al Malook, he imprisons
the Queen of Fairies, Badri Jamala. Later, he floods Naran
and Kaghan to prevent her from escaping with Prince
Saif. When he does not succeed, he cried so much that a
lake in the shape of a teardrop was formed (Aansoo
Jheel).
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Ghouls
Arab folklore regards Banu Ghilan as a tribe of the Jinns.
Folklore from the Persianate world however, (including
Pakistan), describes them as a distinct demon.
Sometimes, they prey on the dead. Sometimes, they hide
in abandoned wells, or haunt barren wastelands, preying
on the living.
Some tales also suggest that initially, they are harmless,
Gwat but their lack of intelligence makes them easy to fool,
A shapeless demon of the winds of Makran coast, it is and gets them into trouble with humans. This makes
infamous for possessing the hearts and minds of its them vengeful, hence, wicked and dangerous.

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victims. The possessed are often driven to insanity or
suicide.At times, it can be expelled, through a
ceremonial ritual called leb, a trance tradition. The ritual
is led by the Gwat-e-Mat, a group of women who have
the Gwati-Ilm (Knowledge of the Gwat). The Ilm is
passed on from one family matriarch to the next
generation of women via oral tradition.

Gowanko Halmasti
It is the Balochi counterpart of the Khapasa, also known A hell-hound as large as a horse, the Halmasti has a
as the Bhoota. It burdens the chest, suffocating the coat of dark red fur, and spews fire out of its mouth. It is
sleeper, causing nightmares and sleep paralysis. Lore a nocturnal creature which descends when someone
suggests that sleeping sideways is better - for it doesn’t dies, or when a baby is born. Newborns are to be
leave the chest open for the night hag. accompanied at all times – if they are left alone, an iron
weapon is to be tucked underneath the cot to keep the
Gorgakh Halmasti from coming close and harming the baby.
It is a demonic spirit from Pashto folklore infamous for It also frequents new graves, or where a corpse is being
unearthing graves and feasting upon the flesh of the prepared for burial with a bath, ghusal. People try to
dead. Graves across the province are often lined with keep such places occupied and recite the Quran to keep
stones to guard against it. it away.
 I&J
Jinn Princess
The Jinn Princess is the heir to the throne of Koh-e-Kaaf
- the homeland of the Fairies and the Jinns. She is often
caught up in turmoil, to save her father’s throne, or to
protect humankind from evil Jinns in her kingdom. She
also features in romance legends.

Ifrit Jinn Jalpari

The Ifrit is mentioned in the Quran as well as the Hadith – The Jalpari, is our counterpart of the mermaid. She may
it is a tribe of the Jinn. It was an Ifrit who brought the attract sailors, sometimes to tease them, and
throne of the Queen of Sheba, Bilquis, to the Prophet sometimes to kill them. The Jalpari’s live in the rivers.
Suleman (Solomon), in the blink of an eye. During Isra They love flowers, so an offering will appease them,
wal Miraj, an Ifrit was following the Prophet Muhammad allowing one safe passage through rivers in Punjab. In
(PBUH) with fire in its mouth. The angel Jilbail (Gabriel) Sindh, Bhullan, the Blind Dolphin of the Indus, is believed
then taught the Prophet (PBUH) a supplication which to be a mermaid by the Mohannas, a tribe of boat
protected him. people. Ajaib al Makhlooqat mentions mentions the
Folklore suggests that the Ifrit are generally ruthless and Mahi Mantooq, half-woman and half-fish, with wings,
wicked, though not necessarily always evil. They have who lives on the Island of Ra’ih, a mythical island
eyes for mortal women, inhabit ruins and desolate believed to be on the Indus River. Djullanar is a mermaid
temples, and can only be harmed, killed or enslaved with from the epic Hazaar raatein (1001 Nights). Her son, Badr
magic. Basim, goes on to rule Persia.

Jinns Jashtan
Beings of smokeless fire, they are believed to be good A dwarf-heighted, human-like creature from the
and bad, just like humans. Belief in the Jinns was also a Hindukush, it has pointed ears and a hat. During
part of pre-Islamic Arab mythology, but has now been summer, they care for the homes of farmers working the
woven into cultures across the Muslim world, including fields. They migrate to warmer temperatures after fall,
Pakistan. and the lights of their torches are seen in a straight line
They haunt desolate roads, forests, ruins, abandoned before disappearing. People often left baked goods by
buildings and graveyards. They can also possess the roadside for the Jashtans during the season, which is
humans, causing the victim to fall sick, or even to die. followed by the autumn festival, the Jashtan Dekeik.
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Jaatu
In Brahui folklore, the women who do evil and perform
black magic in their lifetime is said to be turned into
witches known as Jaatu. They are disguised as humans.
Like the Al Ana, it also feasts on liver, but it also added
hearts to the menu. Her primary victims are children
rather than women and newborns.

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Mumm
An urban legend from Quetta, it has the upper body of a
woman, and the lower body of a mighty lion. It is said to
haunt the hills which line the city, primarily dwelling in
dark caves of the Hanna Valley and the Koh-e-Murdar
mountains. Tales of ghosts, cattle, and even people
vanishing without a trace, or travellers being attacked,
Khapasa were commonplace, and parents warned children to
Khapasa in Pashto, and Khapisi in Khowar, it causes stay indoors after dark, to be safe from the Mumm.

P&Q
sleep paralysis, and has only four fingers, and no thumb,
for if it did, it would choke its victims.

Kazhabol
In Pashto lore from Balochistan, the half-human, half-
beast, it appears after of joyous days. It is usually
someone from the extended family, who will transform
into the monster. A tale speaks of a woman, who was Pisacha
widowed twice on her wedding night, with both the In South Punjab and Sindh, the it is the spirit of those who
husbands brutally mauled. When she said she had no know no peace in this life, and are destined to find none
knowledge of the incidents, people hid to observe her. in the next - liars, drunkards, murderers, and adulterers.
They witnessed her transforming into a Kazhabol. After It often takes on the voices of the living. Boys stepping
that, she was caged at night for several years, until she into adolescence and young women of marriageable
eventually learnt to control herself. age are particularly vulnerable to fall victim to it.
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Prita
A spirit from Sindhi folklore, it is neither inherently
malevolent nor benign but simply exists. It is believed to
be the wandering spirit of a prematurely-born baby, or
an adult who lived with deformities and disabilities.
In a way, it lives on the fringes of the supernatural world,
perhaps, a like the people it represents: unborn children,
whose stories end before they can even start; or the Rantas
differently-abled, often pushed into oblivion by society. In Kashmiri folklore, she is believed to be a type of a
witch. Her feet are reversed, and she has the ability to
Peri’s shapeshift into a young maiden. In her true form, she
Overarchingly, they are described in Pakistani folklore as has long hair which reaches out all the way to her toes, a
beautiful, feminine, winged creatures who are friendly to hunchback, and sharp, pointed nails and teeth. She treks
humankind. However, exceptions exist, and on occasion, about in the snow, seducing and kidnapping young men
they do show their wrath by cursing those who anger she becomes infatuated with, only to murder them a few
them, or by bringing calamity. months into the marriage.
The race is dominated by the womenfolk - legends
occasionally mention a fairy prince every now and them. Rakshasas
Sindoni is a special kind of fairy who can be summoned The Rakshasas often works with the Asuras, to drink up
using magic – she is then bound to the commands of the blood of their prey, fresh corpses of humans and
her summoner. Feru-Tis is the hearth fairy in Khowar animals. The chief of these monstrous beings is Ravana,
folklore, known for occasional harmless mischief. and his sister, Surpankha. The demon exists in Hinduism
as well Buddhism, we do not know if lived on in collective
Quqnoz memory from Pakistan’s Buddhist era during the
Influenced by the Simurgh, it is a gigantic mythical bird Gandhara civilisation or were adopted from Hinduism.
that burns itself every 500 years and rises from its ashes
after the first rain of spring. Khowar lore suggests that
four huntsmen once heard the Song of Fire. Each of them
heard a different combination of notes, which now form
the basis of all Chitrali music.
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Sheeshaka
Originating from Pashtun folklore, Sheeshaka is a tall,
mostly formless creature who is said to haunt
graveyards in the dead of the night. In Mohmand, it is
believed that women who remain unclean for four
months or more, and men who do not pray five times a
day can morph into a Sheeshaka.

Saledah Shirrar
A shapeshifter from Punjabi lore, it is mischiveous rather Found in Mansehra and Haripur, Shirrar is a shape-
than malicious, it likes to give people a scare every now shifting creature usually with the head of a rooster and
and then. Lore suggests not to interact with it at all. Its body of a snake. It is often spotted near watermills
idea of fun is to create unpleasant situations and during grinding season. It isn’t necessarily associated
shapeshift in order to escape responsibility. with any evil properties, however, witnessing them can
“Saleday ki tarah khisak jana” is an Urdu simile, which be difficult and horrifying.
means “to give someone the slip, or escape, like the
Saledah” – in all likelihood, it has been absorbed from Sharmakh
Punjabi. It is a creature of the sea in Pashto lore, believed to hold
the power to conjure storms and causing treacherous
Sea Jinn shipwrecks.
Sea Jinns are famous for never forget favours. A Sindhi
folktale speaks of a fisherman, who saw a big fish in Shaperai
immense pain. Seeing that the spear had not killed it, he In Pashto folklore from Balochistan, the Shaperai is a
removed the spear and let the fish back into the water. woman living two different lives. By day, she blends into
A few days later, he befriended a stranger, who whisked the mundane, but as the sun sets, she takes off on
him away in the air to treat him to halwa. The stranger nocturnal journeys to distant lands.
warned the fisherman not to ask how they had travelled, Lore speaks of a beautiful maiden being spotted in
and to keep his eyes closed during the journey. However, villages on days when the weather is pleasant. Upon
the he asked anyway, and learned that the “fish” was being asked why she was there, she always answers,
actually a Jinn of the Sea. It frightened the fisherman so "Where I roam, good weather follows."
much, that he passed away a few days later.