Death sentence upheld in Zainab case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Tuesday upheld verdict of an anti-terrorism court and dismissed appeal of Imran Ali against his death penalty awarded in rape-cum-murder case of seven-year-old Zainab of Kasur.

A division bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry dismissed the appeal after hearing arguments from prosecution side and counsel of the convict.

At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Asad Jamal, who represents the convict pro bono, asked the bench to grant more time for the preparation of arguments. However, the bench turned down the request and asked the counsel to resume his arguments; otherwise, state counsel would be provided to the convict.

Advocate Jamal then commenced his arguments and questioned the admissibility of DNA analysis relied upon by the trial court while handing down the conviction. He said there had been a misconception that the DNA test was treated as foolproof evidence. The court could not blindly rely upon the scientific evidence, he added.

Besides questioning the fairness of the trial, the counsel also assailed the jurisdiction of anti-terrorism court to hold the trial in the case. The counsel reiterated his request for the adjournment, however, the bench refused to defer the proceedings and sought arguments from the prosecution.

Additional Prosecutor General Abdul Samad stated that the trial court awarded punishment in light of the confession made by the convict in addition to the DNA analysis and witnesses who testified against him.After hearing the arguments, the bench dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction handed down by the trial court. An appeal can be filed before the Supreme Court against the high court’s decision. Talking to media, Haji Amin Ansari, father of the victim girl, said he was satisfied with the high court decision. He said justice had been done in the case. An anti-terrorism court had on February 17, 2018, awarded death sentence on four counts to Imran Ali following a four-day jail trial conducted in the central jail. The convict was also separately given life imprisonment and a seven-year jail term in addition to the death penalty.