Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reached the house of seven-year-old Zainab, who was brutally murdered after rape, on late Wednesday night.
He met the parents and other family members of Zainab and condoled her tragic murder. CM Shehbaz assured the bereaved family of provision of justice in the case.
Newly-appointed DPO Kasur Zahid Khan Marwat briefed CM Shehbaz on his arrival in Kasur.
The spokesman for Punjab government, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and top police officials also accompanied CM Shehbaz during the visit.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik Ahmad Khan said that culprits involved in Zainab case will be apprehended soon. He also said that police officials involved in firing on unarmed protesters have been arrested.
'Strangled to death, raped multiple times'
Zainab's initial postmortem report of the minor stated that she was strangled to death after being raped multiple times. However, officials said the exact cause of death would be determined after further forensic examination.
Also read: CJ Takes Notice of Zainab Murder, Summons Report in 24 hrs
Zainab's parents claimed that police did not cooperate in finding their child after she went missing. "If the police would have acted immediately, the culprit would have been caught," said Zainab's father.
The funeral prayers of the deceased were offered Wednesday afternoon, led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s Tahirul Qadri.
Zainab was laid to rest later in the evening after her funeral prayers were offered for the second time.
The father of the murdered girl said that police and NADRA should employ their resources to identify the suspect, but lamented that authorities had completely failed in finding the murderer. He demanded that the perpetrator be "publicly punished."
Suo motu notice
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar also took suo motu notice of the case later on Wednesday, ordering the Punjab Inspector General of Police to submit a report to the court within 24 hours.
Earlier that day, responding to the parents' appeal, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa issued directives for all-out support to the civil administration to arrest the criminals and bring them to exemplary justice.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had also taken notice of the incident and summoned reports from the Kasur sessions judge and police officials.
Read more: Zainab Laid to Rest Amid Scenes of mourning, Tears
The chief minister also constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) headed by Additional Inspector-General Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh.
The JIT, which also includes officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau, was ordered to submit its report within 24 hours.
Protests, police firing
At least two people were killed and one injured when police opened fire on protesters who had broken into the DC Office on Wednesday while protesting the incident. Video from the protests showed some policemen opening straight fire on protesters.
Enraged protesters vandalised public property and cars inside the vicinity along with pelting stones at police officers.
One of the protesters shared that seven minor girls were kidnapped last year, yet the police failed to arrest a single suspect.
Two suspects involved: Punjab law minister
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said Wendesday two people were suspected to be involved in the rape and murder of Zainab, adding they will be arrested soon and given an exemplary punishment.
He also challenged the narrative pertaining to police’s inaction in the case, adding that the police were in contact with the minor’s family constantly and conducting an investigation.
When asked about lack of police action regarding similar cases in Kasur, Sanaullah remarked that all the cases are of different nature. It’s not that there is just one suspect behind all the incidents whom the police have failed to arrest, he said.
Also read: COAS directs for civil administration's support to catch Zainab's rapist
The CCTV footage shows that the minor was walking with someone she knew. “It was either someone from her family, neighbourhood or servant,” the minister speculated.
On the violent protests in Kasur, he remarked that the people should control their emotions in such situations and not cause harm to public property. “It is worrisome that some people are resorting to violence, arson. I request people to stay calm and exercise patience.”
Sheikhupura Regional Police Officer Zulfiqar Hameed said it was not correct to term the incident negligence on the part of the police.
The minor's family provided the CCTV footage and neighbours also helped in the case but it is incorrect to think that police is being negligent, Hameed said.
Hameed also said that 96 samples of DNA have been sent for testing, adding that the police hope to find a DNA match in at least five cases.
Earlier, Kasur District Police Officer Zulfiqar Ahmed revealed that over 5,000 people have been questioned in eight cases related to minor girls being allegedly raped and then murdered in the city, while medical checkups of 67 individuals have taken place.
Ahmed was later removed from office and made an officer on special duty (OSD).
Read more: JIT Formed to Probe Zainab’s Murder
On February 25 last year, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped and then strangled to death in Kasur. According to reports, her body was found at an abandoned house near her residence in Ali Park.
The victim's family and neighbours had protested by blocking Lahore Road demanding justice.
In August 2015, the country's biggest child abuse scandal was unearthed in Ganda Singh Wala area of Kasur, where around 400 objectionable videos were made of 280 victims of abuse by a gang of over 25 criminals.
