Man confesses to killing minor niece

Accused killed child out of jealousy as his brother has sons while he has five daughters

KALA SHAH KAKU:

Police claimed to have solved the mystery surrounding the abduction and murder of three-year-old Zainab from Kot Pindi Das, a suburban locality near Kala Shah Kaku, after extracting a confession from the victim's uncle.

Police arrested the accused, Umar Farooq, who has confessed to killing his niece out of jealousy over his brother having sons while he himself was the father of five daughters.

Police said Abdul Rauf, a labourer from Kot Pindi Das, reported on October 19 that his three-year-old daughter Zainab had gone missing while playing outside their home. A kidnapping case was immediately registered against unknown persons, and police began a search operation.

On Thursday, Zainab's body was found dumped near the Nala Dek canal in the nearby village of Shamkay.

She had been brutally murdered. Following an autopsy, police added murder charges to the case and expanded the investigation.

Upon instructions from IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, a special joint investigation team was formed under DPO Sheikhupura Bilal Zafar Sheikh, comprising SP Investigation Rana Ghulam Abbas, DSP Nawaz Siyal, DSP CCD Iftikhar Waria, and Inspector Haji Wali Hasan Pasha.

The team launched a door-to-door investigation, beginning from the victim's home.

Within 24 hours, the police traced and arrested the prime suspect - Umar Farooq, the victim's real uncle and elder brother of Abdul Rauf. He was taken into custody and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Police sources revealed that Umar Farooq had been struggling with deep resentment toward his brother. Abdul Rauf had three sons and only one daughter - Zainab - while Umar Farooq had five daughters and no sons. On the same day Zainab went missing, Abdul Rauf's wife had given birth to another baby boy.

Driven by jealousy and bitterness, Umar Farooq allegedly decided to "deprive his brother of the blessing he cherished most." Disturbingly, after the abduction, he joined his brother in the search for Zainab, pretending to help locate her.

Unaware of the truth, Abdul Rauf continued to seek help from his elder brother - not knowing that the man helping him look for his missing child was her killer.