LHC orders ATC to hold daily proceedings

SBP, PFSA officials included in JIT; investigators summon anchor Dr Shahid Masood

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge to hold trial of Imran Ali, the alleged murderer of Kasur’s 7-year-old child Zainab, on daily basis as investigators summoned the renowned anchor person Dr Shahid Masood to appear before it with his findings.



According to a notification issued on Thursday, the LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah directed the ATC Court-1 judge Sajjad Ahmad to hold “Day to Day hearing of Zainab’s case”. He also ordered Ahmad to strictly observe and follow the provision of Section 19 (7) & (8) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Justice Shah also directed the ATC judge to ensure decision of the case under Section 302, 363,, 364-A, 376, 377 of Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7ATA within the stipulated period of seven days after taking cognizance of the same by proceedings with the trail on day to day basis.

On Wednesday, the ATC judge remanded the accused to a joint investigation team (JIT) on 14-days physical remand for further investigation. Imran Ali, who was arrested on the basis of his DNA test after two-week-long probe, has confessed to killing at least 8 children including Zainab.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police spokesperson said the JIT members have begun a regular interrogation from the accused person, and have also met with parents of two other victims to collect information. He said the JIT also call on Zainab’s father Haji Ameen but could not meet it due to illness.

“[The] JIT has also called private channel talk show ‘Live with Dr Shahid Masood's anchorperson with all evidences that were disclosed by him in his programme about the Kasur incident to meet JIT members,” he said in a statement.



According to the spokesperson, the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) Director General Dr Ashraf Tahir and senior member of the State Bank of Pakistan have been made part of the JIT to increase its strength.

“The JIT has also requested Governor State Bank of Pakistan to provide all information of bank accounts and all transactions made by the alleged [murdered] Imran,” he said.

He claimed that all the modern and scientific aspects of the case are being ‘observed keenly’ while other incidents of sexual abuse with innocent children are also investigated.

“…Information is being collected [by] taking all plaintiffs of cases on board so that facts may [be] revealed after accumulation of evidences,” he said.