Zainab murder accused records statement

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday recorded the statement of Imran Ali, the alleged child rapist and killer of seven-year old Zainab Amin of Kasur, with the directions to the lawyers of both sides to come up with arguments.

ATC Judge Sajjad Ahmad held the proceedings for nine hours in Kot Lakhpat jail. Advocate Mehr Shakeel Multani, the counsel for Imran Ali, withdrew his power of attorney and said that he was backing off from the case. He said that after confessional statement of Imran Ali, he did not want to plead his case. “My conscience doesn’t allow me to plead case of such criminal,” said Multani before the judge. Muhammad Sultan has been nominated as counsel for Imran Ali by the Prosecutor General Punjab. The court recorded the statements of 33 witnesses and adjourned the proceedings till Thursday (today).

The LHC had already ordered the trial court to conclude the case within seven days. On Feb 9, police had charged the alleged murderer and rapist of seven-year old Kasur girl of serial killings of at least seven other minor girls. The high-powered joint investigation team submitted its 175-page report before the anti-terrorism court, and produced the handcuffed suspect Imran Ali before it amid tight security. After 13-day interrogation, Ali was charged with eight rape and execution-styled murders that sparked countrywide outrage and brought international condemnation.