Punjab govt, police not serious in Zainab rape, murder case: LHC CJ

LAHORE: Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked on Monday that the Punjab government and police appear non-serious in the rape and murder case of Zainab.

He made the remarks after the non-appearance of the Punjab police chief while hearing the suo motu notice of Zainab's case. 

Seven-year-old Zainab, a resident of Road Kot area of Kasur, was kidnapped on January 4 when she ventured out of the house. Her body was found in a garbage pile near Kashmir Chowk five days later.

LHC Chief Justice Shah had taken notice of the incident. 

During the hearing, the former head of the joint investigation team, Additional Inspector General (AIG) AIG Abu Bakr Khuda Baksh appeared in court. 

The AIG informed the court that the first incident of child abuse in Kasur was reported in June 2015.

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The court remarked that the seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the Punjab IG did not appear in court today. 

"Had the government taken action against similar suspects earlier the present incident would not have occurred," the LHC chief justice observed.

The LHC chief justice asked the government and police to admit their failure. 

The AIG informed the court that 67 DNA tests have been carried out as part of the case's investigation so far, adding that it appears that a serial killer is involved.

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The minor was abducted by unknown men, subjected to assault and dumped in a heap of trash in November 2017

The state counsel informed the court that the same serial killer is involved in the case of Kainat Batool, another Kasur victim undergoing treatment at a Lahore hospital. 

The chief justice directed the authorities to provide the best possible treatment to Batool. 

Later, the chief justice formed a special court and ruled that child abuse cases should now go to the court, which has to conduct daily proceedings.  

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The case was then adjourned until January 17, with the court directing authorities to submit details of similar cases against girls in Kasur and action taken against the suspects.

At the last hearing of the case on Friday, the chief justice had given the police chief 36 hours to nab the suspect.