‘Zainab’s killing reflects grim face of rulers, society’

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The opposition leaders slammed the government over the brutal murder of a seven-year-old girl in Kasur, saying it showed the ugly face of both rulers and the system.

Meanwhile, people on social media raised their voice against the incident and demanded swift justice for the culprits, as #JusticeForZainab became the top trend on Twitter. PTI Chairman Imran Khan said the horrific rape and murder of Zainab exposed once again how vulnerable the children were in the society.

“The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society. This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected,” he said in his messages on social media.

Imran said the total degeneration of the Punjab Police was apparent once again in Kasur when they opened fire on the unarmed protesters who were raising their voice against the horrific incident.

The PTI chairman will visit the residence of Zainab in Kasur on Thursday (today) and also meet the two killed in police firing. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari too was critical of the provincial government, demanding immediate action against the culprits and said Pakistan needed to re-evaluate how to deal with such crimes.

“Ten incidents of minors’ rape and murders had been reported in Kasur and 11 in Sheikhupura alone last year. It seems some parts of Punjab have been turned into hell for children, especially girls but [the] Sharif brothers appear to have abandoned their duty as rulers,” the PPP chairman said in a statement.

Similarly, JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq, in a statement, described the incident as the worst example of human degradation and said the shameful incidents had been taking place in and around Kasur since long but the rulers seemed to be totally blind.

The government, he said, was not mindful of its responsibility to protect the life, honour and property of the masses as their only concern was to remain in power. PML-Q's senior central leader Pervaiz Elahi accused the government of repeating the Model Town tragedy in Kasur. “What more can happen with the people of Punjab,” the former chief minister asked media persons at his Lahore residence.

Meanwhile, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Abdul Rehman Malik said it was not the first incident of its kind and sought a report from the Punjab IGP. “The incidents of this nature are very serious, the worst kind of child abuse, heinous crime and it is unbearable," he said, adding, “It is a shameful act and a stigma on the face of our nation and it seems there is no rule of law in the country.”

In separate statements, PPP Chaudhry Manzoor and ANP’s Sindh chapter head Shahi Syed voiced serious concern over the rape-murder of the minor girl and the police firing on protesters. PTI leader Aleem Khan in a statement said the Kasur incident had again proved the incapability and inefficiency of the Punjab government, while the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mehmood-ur-Rasheed said his party would file an application for registration of an FIR against the chief minister for the murder of Zainab and the two protesters. Meanwhile, the Punjab Bar Council gave a strike call for Thursday (today) to register their protest.