Zainab Murder: Committee to probe bank accounts of Imran Ali today
LAHORE (92 News) – A two-member committee formed by the Supreme Court to probe into the claims of anchorperson Shahid Masood that arrested suspect in Zainab murder case was linked to an international child-porn ring, will start investigation into the bank accounts of Imran Ali.
The latest development came days after the arrest of Mohammad Imran, 24, in connection with the rape and killing of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari in the city of Kasur.
Anchorperson Shahid Masood had also informed the Supreme Court that arrested suspect in Zainab murder case was backed by a federal minister and a prominent personality after which the CJP formed two-member committee which will present a final report on this matter within two days.
The TV anchor had alleged that Zainab's suspected rapist and murderer was a member of a pornography gang, which also includes a Punjab minister.
Masood alleged before the judges that the suspect in custody for the murder of Zainab and other children is not mentally challenged or simpleminded, but rather a member of an international ring. He has 37 foreign currency bank accounts, and the backing of the most important personality and a minister, he claimed.
The Kasur incident has come under discussion all over the world, and the chief justice, army chief, prime minister and other top officials should ensure the matter is investigated, Masood said.
The anchorperson raised concerns over the security of the suspect, saying he feared the possibility that he would be killed in police custody. He asked that the suspect be kept in the custody of an intelligence agency.
The court asked Masood to provide details regarding the evidence he had, to which he said he had submitted the details of the suspect's 37 bank accounts to the court.
Imran is accused of using food to lure in victims before raping and killed them
Investigators say he was linked to the murder of Zainab using DNA techniques, which also matched with DNA found at seven other murder scenes.
Zainab was assaulted and her body thrown in a garbage dump there earlier this month, stirring outrage across Pakistan and bringing to light a string of other abductions and slayings by a suspected serial predator. Her parents were on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when she went missing.
On Tuesday, police officials said the suspect had confessed to the murders. A judge at the Lahore High Court granted the police another week for the investigation.
So far Imran, who will be tried before an anti-terrorism court, has not hired a lawyer to represent him. His trial, according to the Lahore court, is expected to last a week, with daily hearings.
The Kasur incident has come under discussion all over the world, and the chief justice, army chief, prime minister and other top officials should ensure the matter is investigated, Masood said.
The anchorperson raised concerns over the security of the suspect, saying he feared the possibility that he would be killed in police custody. He asked that the suspect be kept in the custody of an intelligence agency.
The court asked Masood to provide details regarding the evidence he had, to which he said he had submitted the details of the suspect's 37 bank accounts to the court.
Imran is accused of using food to lure in victims before raping and killed them
Investigators say he was linked to the murder of Zainab using DNA techniques, which also matched with DNA found at seven other murder scenes.
Zainab was assaulted and her body thrown in a garbage dump there earlier this month, stirring outrage across Pakistan and bringing to light a string of other abductions and slayings by a suspected serial predator. Her parents were on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when she went missing.
On Tuesday, police officials said the suspect had confessed to the murders. A judge at the Lahore High Court granted the police another week for the investigation.
So far Imran, who will be tried before an anti-terrorism court, has not hired a lawyer to represent him. His trial, according to the Lahore court, is expected to last a week, with daily hearings.
