Report on Zainab: TV anchor failed to prove claims, FIA tells SC

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Thursday told the Supreme Court that TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood had failed to come up with evidences in support of his claims made in the murder-rape case of 8-year-old Zainab.

A three-member inquiry committee, headed by Director General FIA Bashir Memon, submitted its findings to the apex court which said virtually every single claim made by Dr Shahid Masood had no sound basis.

It said there was no conspiracy to declare Imran Ali, Zainab’s killer, as mentally ill or mad and there was never any threat to his life from any influential person. On the contrary, the report said extraordinary measures were taken for Imran Ali’s security and it was ensured that his fate was decided by none other than the court through a judicial process.

On January 29, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar constituted a three-member inquiry committee, headed by Bashir Memon, and comprising Anwar Ali, Joint Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Asmatullah Junejo, Assistant Inspector General (Operation Division) Islamabad Police, to determine veracity of Dr Shahid Masood’s allegations.

In his television show telecast on January 24 and media talk on Jan 25 outside the apex court, Dr Shahid Masood alleged that Imran had bank accounts within and outside Pakistan. The committee was tasked with checking the veracity of allegations and giving a clear finding whether the allegations were true. The committee stated that no mafia was involved in the rape and murder of the minor.

Similarly, no evidence was produced about Imran’s bank accounts nationally and internationally”, the report says, adding that no proof was brought on record that Imran Ali was pressurised by any federal minister.

The report further said that no proof was provided in support of claim about violent child/crime pornography in Kasur and involvement of a gang in this regard. The report said there was also no evidence that Imran Ali had taken pictures of the minor before rape and murder.