LAHORE – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday found no bank accountsunder the name of the suspect in Zainab rape and murder case.
The SBP in its investigative report said it did not find any bank accountsunder the suspect’s name following the claims of anchorperson Shahid Masoodthat arrested suspect in Zainab murder case was linked to an internationalchild-porn ring and was holding multiple bank accounts.
The latest development came days after the arrest of Mohammad Imran, 24, inconnection with the rape and killing of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari in thecity of Kasur.
Anchorperson Shahid Masood had also informed the Supreme Court thatarrested suspect in Zainab murder case was backed by a federal minister anda prominent personality after which the CJP formed two-member committeewhich will present a final report on this matter within two days.
The TV anchor had alleged that Zainab’s suspected rapist and murderer was amember of a pornography gang, which also includes a Punjab minister.
Masood alleged before the judges that the suspect in custody for the murderof Zainab and other children is not mentally challenged or simpleminded,but rather a member of an international ring. He has 37 foreign currencybank accounts, and the backing of the most important personality and aminister, he claimed.
The Kasur incident has come under discussion all over the world, and thechief justice, army chief, prime minister and other top officials shouldensure the matter is investigated, Masood said.
The anchorperson raised concerns over the security of the suspect, sayinghe feared the possibility that he would be killed in police custody. Heasked that the suspect be kept in the custody of an intelligence agency.
The court asked Masood to provide details regarding the evidence he had, towhich he said he had submitted the details of the suspect’s 37 bankaccounts to the court.
Imran is accused of using food to lure in victims before raping and killedthem
Investigators say he was linked to the murder of Zainab using DNAtechniques, which also matched with DNA found at seven other murder scenes.
Zainab was assaulted and her body thrown in a garbage dump there earlierthis month, stirring outrage across Pakistan and bringing to light a stringof other abductions and slayings by a suspected serial predator. Herparents were on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when she went missing.
On Tuesday, police officials said the suspect had confessed to the murders.A judge at the Lahore High Court granted the police another week for theinvestigation.
So far Imran, who will be tried before an anti-terrorism court, has nothired a lawyer to represent him. His trial, according to the Lahore court,is expected to last a week, with daily hearings.