Zainab's murderer handed death on five counts

Convict was awarded the death sentence over charges of rape and murder of two minor girls

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Sajjad Ahmad Sheikh awarded death sentence to convict Imran Ali on five counts, over the charges of rape and murder of two minor girls. He is currently on a death-row in Zainab murder case.

The ATC judge announced the judgment after Deputy Prosecutor General Anti-Terrorism Court-I Abdul Rauf Wattoo established the role of Imran in the rape and murder of Iman Fatima. The DPG Wattoo also established rape and attempted murder of victim T*.

The court has convicted Imran in cases no 352/16 and 188/17 registered in Kasur. In the first case, Imran has been awarded death on one count, 25 years of imprisonment on two counts while in other case Imran has been awarded death sentence on four counts and life imprisonment on one count.

The court has also directed the convict to pay a total Rs1,000,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased girl Iman Fatima. Earlier, on Saturday, Ali Imran was awarded death sentence on 12 counts for the rape and murder of Layeba, Noor Fatima and Ayesha Asif. The judge also directed to pay Rs1,000,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of each deceased.



In another rape case of a minor girl who is still in a coma, Imran Ali has been sentenced for life imprisonment on three counts under section 364-A and 377 of the PPC and under the section 7 (c) of the ATA, 1997 along with a fine of Rs10 lac each. He has also been convicted for 10 years imprisonment under section 336 and 324 of the PPC and awarded three-year imprisonment under section 411 of the PPC.

Previously, on February 2, an ATC had awarded death sentence on four counts to Iman Ali, on the charges of kidnapping, rape and brutal murder of seven-year-old Zainab Amin of Kasur after completing the trial in just seven days.

Zainab Amin was abducted on January 04 from nearby her aunt’s house in Kasur where she was going to learn Quran. Her body was recovered from a heap of garbage near her house on January 9. Earlier, Punjab police showed its conventional behaviour and didn’t bother to investigate the matter. But after some time pressure started to build through social and mainstream media and police started an investigation.



The police collected DNA samples of 1,187 people from January 12 to January 23 in a bid to hunt the actual accused.  Meanwhile, the data of census of that locality was also collected. DNA samples were collected from men between the ages of 22 and 40. First, six streets near Zainab house were marked to get DNA samples. On January 20, more than 155 DNA samples were collected and the forensic revealed the sample of one person matched. On January 23, the forensic team confirmed it was Imran Ali whose DNA was matched. The accused was arrested the same day. When the accused was in police custody he was taken to a place where his dress and walking style was examined. He was then matched with the sketch which the concerned department had made.

A three-member prosecution team lead by Abdul Rauf Wattoo assisted the court. The statements of 33 witnesses were recorded during the trial proceedings including Zainab’s uncle and brother.

*Name withheld to protect identity