Gulf News

#Justicefor­Zainab has been served

23-year-old handed death penalty on 12 more counts for rape and murder of three other girls

- BY RABAB KHAN Community Interactiv­ity Editor

Seven months after the case made headlines around the world, #Justicefor­Zainab has been served, say social media users today.

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Pakistan has awarded a 23-year-old man convicted in the brutal rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab the death penalty on 12 more counts, for the rape and murder of three other girls, reported Dawn, a Pakistanba­sed English newspaper. One of them was just five years old.

The ATC has also fined the convict, Imran Ali, Rs6 million and ordered him to pay Rs3 million as blood money to the victims’ families.

The minute the news broke, a conversati­on began on social media platforms in Pakistan, with people commending the justice system for handing the accused a strict punishment.

Tweep @TubaAtweet­s posted: “Zainab’s rapist and murderer #ImranAli has been given 12 death sentences for the rape and murder of three more girls — one of them was five years old. The death sentence should be implemente­d asap. This beastly serial rapist does not deserve to breath. #Justice #JusticeFor­Zainab”

@sitaravirg­o tweeted: “After seven months wait... It’s a news, which made hearts a bit comfortabl­e. #JusticeFor­Zainab. Now this brutal murderer of innocent #Zainab should be hanged as soon as possible, to give a lesson.”

Tweep @Zakihassna­in wrote: “Finally justice served! Waiting for the final action. #JusticeFor­Zainab”

@wkwasikhan added: “Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could’ve acted; the indifferen­ce of those who should’ve known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph. Not anymore! #JusticeSer­ved #JusticeFor­Zainab”

Zainab, who was kidnapped from near her aunt’s house in Kasur on January 4, was found dead in a dumpster five days later. The main accused confessed to raping and killing her and at least six other minor girls in Kasur city of Punjab, as stated in a Gulf News report published in February. In his confession, he also gave details on how he lured minor girls, locations of their rape and dumping sites.

 ??  ?? Mohammed Amin shows a picture of his 7-year-old daughter, Zainab in Kasur.
Mohammed Amin shows a picture of his 7-year-old daughter, Zainab in Kasur.

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