Police claim to arrest Zainab’s killer, say suspect admitted crime

LAHORE: Police in Kasur claimed on Tuesday to have arrested the man responsible for the heinous rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab. Zainab was kidnapped from near her aunt’s house on January 4 in Kasur. Her body was recovered from a garbage heap on January 9. The post-mortem of the minor revealed that she had been raped before being murdered. The suspect Imran, said to be 24-years-old, was familiar with Zainab’s family and would also frequent the minor girl's house, police sources told Geo News. Imran is also said to be a relative of the deceased and a resident of Kot Road where the young Zainab also resided. However, Zainab's father has refuted claims that the suspect is related to them. Imran was picked up initially by the police but was let go without testing his DNA after the family intervened and identified him as someone familiar and trusted. After being let go Imran had fled from Kasur and for a short while was residing in Pakpattan. On the orders of the District Police Officer (DPO), certain individuals were rounded-up again including Imran and their DNA tests were conducted. The suspect was picked up five days earlier and interrogated which further confirmed that Imran was, in fact, the perpetrator of the crime. According to police sources, Imran has also confessed to his crime. Additionally, sources claim that Imran had shaved his beard after the incident which helped him evade arrest till now as the CCTV footage showed a man sporting a beard. Detailed DNA report awaited Punjab government spokesperson Malik Ahmed Khan confirmed that the suspect Imran had been arrested from near Pakpattan. According to the spokesperson, a confirmation on the suspect being Zainab’s killer will be given after a detailed DNA report is received. “We are waiting on confirmation from the forensic report. Details will be provided after 6pm.” “He (Imran) was among the 600 people whose DNA tests had been conducted,” the spokesperson added. Ahmed told Geo News that if the DNA matches, Imran would be the same suspect involved in similar cases to that of Zainab. The spokesperson further said that circumstantial evidence pointed towards Imran’s involvement in the case. "The suspect is currently under interrogation." A joint investigation team (JIT) was formed by the Punjab government following the brutal rape and murder of Zainab. Multan Regional Police Officer DIG Muhammad Idrees was appointed the head of the JIT after Zainab’s father had objected to the previous JIT head. Appearing before the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry on Sunday, DIG Idrees submitted a progress report and informed the court that Zainab's was the eighth incident of child abuse in Kasur since June 2015. The court then gave the JIT 72 hours to present substantial progress in the probe. Society should also play part in protecting children: Rana Sanaullah Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that apart from police and law enforcement authorities, the society also has a part to play in protecting children from potential abuse. The provincial law minister was speaking to Geo News, where he stated that anything cannot be said with finality before the forensic report is here. He said that hopefully the nation will hear a good news, while lauding CM Punjab and provincial authorities’ efforts. He said that as soon as the official report is out, the details will be shared with the media. Killer should be given exemplary punishment, say siblings Zainab’s sister Laiba spoke to Geo News, where she said that if Imran is the real murderer then he should be publicly hanged. The sister said that the suspect should be given an exemplary punishment. “He said he used to get possessed by djinns, if that was the case then he should be given a befitting punishment to be exorcised,” said the sister. Zainab’s brother, Abu Bakar said that the suspect should given an exemplary sentence so that others like him get a message. People started to arrive at Zainab’s home, eagerly awaiting to know if the said killer is also involved in the murder of other children. According to neighbours, Imran did not have any proper profession and used to claim that he would get possessed at times. Police contingents were deployed outside the residence of Zainab, while Imran’s residence was also guarded in order to save it from incited mobs. The neighbourers had handed over Imran after Zainab’s body was recovered, however, he was released from custody when his condition deteriorated. The polygraphic test of the suspect was completed, while the report was forwarded to Chief Minister Punjab. Police said that the test also proved that the suspect was involved in the crime. Source: News