Zain murder case: Kanju, guards sent on eight-day physical remand

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sent Mustafa Kanju and his guards on an eight-day physical remand in the murder case of Zain Rauf a student of class 9.

Mustafa Kanju the son of a former minister was brought to the ATC on Friday and said he had appeared in court to prove his innocence. Kanju was arrested on Thursday by the police and is accused of gunning down 13-year-old Zain after a road accident.

The incident took place near Cavalry ground in Lahore Cantt, where police said Mustafa Kanju and his guards also wounded a passerby when he and his three guards opened fire after an accident involving his vehicle and a motorcycle.

Mustafa Kanju, the son of former state minister for foreign affairs Siddique Kanju, escaped the scene and was on the run before police arrested him from Kohra Pakka after carrying out several raids.

The weapon used in the killing was yet to be recovered – a key piece of evidence for a murder case.

Police had earlier arrested three guards accompanying Kanju and seized the vehicle after reaching at the site immediately after the incident.

DIG Operations Haider Ashraf had earlier told Geo News that Kanju’s name had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL) to arrest him before he attempts to flee from the country.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the incident and had sought a report from the DIG Operations.

Earlier, mother of the slain teenager has appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and the chief justice of Pakistan for the swift deliverance of justice.

Members of Zain’s family had alleged that they had received phone calls from the family of the accused threatening them and asking them to back down from the charges. They also appealed to the Punjab government to provide the family protection.