Mohammad Arif, 35, (R) sits in a police custody at a police station, in the town of Darya Khan in Bhakkar District
Mohammad Arif, 35, (R) sits in a police custody at a police station, in the town of Darya Khan in Bhakkar District, Punjab province, April 14, 2014. Reuters

A second man has been arrested on suspicion of cannibalism after the head of a newborn baby was found at his home in Pakistan.

Farman Ali, 30, was detained a day after police arrested his brother, Mohammad Arif, 35.

Arif admitted eating the child after his brother stole the body from a graveyard in Darya Khan village, around 300km south of Islamabad.

Officers were called after neighbours complained about the stench coming from their property.

District police chief Ameer Abdullah said: "Residents informed police after a stench emanated from the house of the two brothers.

"We raided the house on Monday morning and found the head of a young boy."

The pair had already shocked the nation when they were jailed for digging up more than 100 corpses from the local graveyard and eating them over a ten-year period - meant for black magic rituals.

Residents protested against their release last year. The duo were fined 200,000 Pakistani rupees (£1,240) each.

They have been charged with desecrating a dead body and public order offences, similar to the 2011 case, as there is no specific law for cannibalism in Pakistan.