LAHORE – Punjab Police has claimed to have arrested main accused in Zainab rape-killing case, local media reported.
The accused has been identified as Imran and is reportedly a relative of the seven-year-old girl. He lived near the house of the innocent girl in Kasur, from where she was abducted.
Police sources said that the accused was taken into custody some days ago but was released after investigation, adding that he has been arrested again after his DNA matched evidence found in the case during the medical examination.
The accused, according to police, has confessed to the heinous crime.
Zainab was kidnapped on January 4 when she was on her way to Holy Quran class. Her body was discovered five days later from a garbage pile. The post-mortem report revealed that the minor girl had been raped and murdered.
As the Kasur incident ramped up pressure on the performance of the government, a high-profile joint investigation team (JIT) was formed to solve the case, but it could not trace the suspect for several past days despite possessing several CCTV footages.
The incident also sparked violent protest in Kasur and drew countrywide criticism, raising questions on the performance of law enforcers. During the protest, two men were killed in police firing that added fuel to the fire.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also took suo moto notice of the Kasur rape case and summoned all investigators on next hearing.