LAHORE – In a major development, police have reportedly arrested primeaccused in a case of the seven-year-old girl, who was raped and murdered inKasur last week.
The claim has been made by a private new channel stating that the policecaptured the person, who lookalikes to a person can be seen in a CCTVfootage, from Bhatta Chowk, an area of Lahore.
Later, he was shifted to a nearby police station where police officers,including DIG and SSP, interrogated the suspect. According to media, thearrested person has confessed to raping and subsequently killing theinnocent girl, Zainab, in Kasur.
Zainab was kidnapped on January 4 when she was on her way to Holy Quranclass. Her body was discovered five days later from a garbage pile. Thepost-mortem report revealed that the minor girl had been raped and murdered.
Police believe the suspect is a serial killer as the same DNA found inprevious assault cases in which nine girls, ages five to 10 years, wereraped and killed seven of them.
Media reports suggest a sample has been sent to a laboratory for DNA testof the arrested suspect. After the test, the results will be cross-matchedwith the DNA found in the past cases, including Zainab case.
As the Kasur incident ramped up pressure on the performance of thegovernment, a high-profile joint investigation team (JIT) was formed tosolve the case, but it could not trace the suspect for several past daysdespite possessing several CCTV footages.
The incident also sparked violent protest in Kasur and drew countrywidecriticism, raising questions on the performance of law enforcers. Duringthe protest, two men were killed in police firing that added fuel to thefire.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also took suo motonotice of the Kasur rape case and summoned all investigators on nexthearing, going to be held on Sunday.