Kasur Tragedy: SC expresses dissatisfaction over JIT’s probe

LAHORE (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation of law-enforcement agencies into the brutal rape and murder of minor seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the suo moto case. During the proceedings, the head of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe Zainab murder case appeared before court and submitted a report. The report submitted by the JIT head Muhammad Idrees stated that only one person is behind the murders of all minors. Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik remarked that instead of only depending upon the DNA samples, the police should also use conventional methods as well for the investigation. In the previous hearing, the SC had barred the Lahore High Court (LHC) from hearing the Zainab murder case, summoned the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the rape and murder of minor girl. The CJP remarked that no significant progress in the case was visible so far and more time cannot be given. He observed that the Kasur incident was a test of the police’s ability and failing to arrest the accused would be the failure of the police and provincial government. Earlier, Zainab’s body was discovered in a heap of rubbish last week in the northeastern city of Kasur. She had disappeared on January 4 after leaving her house to go to a tuition centre. Protests calling for justice in various parts of Kasur turned violent, resulting in at least two deaths and several injuries. In 2017, at least 12 similar incidents were reported in the Kasur district alone, local media reported. In the first half of 2017, more than 1,750 cases of child abuse were reported across Pakistan, according to Sahil, a non-governmental organization that works on the issue of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Of the cases in the first six months of last year, 65 percent took place in Pakistan’s Punjab province.