Zain murder case: Kanju sent on judicial remand

E-Paper | July 28, 2026

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) today sent Mustafa Kanju, alleged killer of a Lahore youth Zain, and four of his accomplices on a 14-day-long judicial remand.

Last week, the ATC’s presiding judge Rai Ayub Marth had extended Kanju's physical remand for six days and had directed the police to complete their investigation of the case before its next hearing.

The judicial remand would allow the police to collect evidence pertaining to the investigation in order to frame charges against Kanju. These will then be presented in the ATC.

In a hearing at the ATC on April 3, Kanju had argued that the fact that he had fired shots did not mean they led to Zain's death. He had claimed innocence, saying the police and the victim's relatives were conspiring to trap him in the case.

Also, Kanju's lawyer had stated that Zain, a 16-year-old orphan, had fallen victim to cross-firing between his client and his 'opponents' ─ whom he did not identify ─ and that Kanju had no personal enmity with Zain.

After being sent on an eight-day physical remand by the ATC, Kanju on April 5 confessed to firing the shots that resulted in Zain's death. He asserted that he was not intoxicated at the time, and that he resorted to aerial firing upon becoming enraged after an accident. He said Zain was not the target of the fire, nor did he intend to kill Zain or anyone else.

Forensic reports revealed that Kanju's fingerprints were on a Kalashnikov firearm that was recovered from the scene.

On April 2, Mustafa Kanju was arrested and a case was registered against him under 7-ATA and Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The arrest came a day after Kanju opened indiscriminate fire when his luxury car accidentally hit the vehicle of a woman in Lahore’s Cavalry Ground. Bullets hit Zain, a motorcyclist, and Husnain, 18, who had come out of the house after hearing the noise. Zain, a class-IX student, died on the spot and Husnain was critically injured.

Sources claimed six security guards who worked for Kanju were arrested on the night of April 1 from his residence in Old Cavalry Ground. Police had also recovered empty shells of a gun from the crime scene and had later seized the gun used in the incident.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident, ordered the arrest of the suspect and announced Rs0.5m for the family of the deceased. He also assured them of the provision of justice.

There were confusing statements regarding the incident by police, which also contradicted eyewitness accounts.

Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

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M.Saeed

Apr 17, 2015 05:34pm

If innocent then why did he run away to a far off place to hide? Why did he not carry the victim of his so claimed, unintended firing? Why was he keeping an army of personal guards for self-security if he had no intention of causing any situation calling for a heavy self-security?

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Abdul Malik

Apr 17, 2015 06:52pm

Kanju is a liar ! he is the main culprit because he is the one who fired the gun shot, regardless if it was meant for the deceased Zain or not. The fact that from his gun, fired by him, killed an innocent young boy and critically injured another, is reason and proof enough to fix charges against Kanju and justice must prevail and done. Nothing short of this will be acceptable to anyone.

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Nazir Ahmed

Apr 17, 2015 08:06pm

He has committed the crime. The 2nd crime he is lying. He must be punished. There should also be action against the police for issuing contradictory statements.

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Javed

Apr 17, 2015 08:13pm

@Abdul Malik Very true, any sane person will be of the same opinion.

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Sultan Dar

Apr 17, 2015 08:25pm

As long as private ownership of weapons is not curbed these incidents cannot be stopped from occuring.

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Riaz M M

Apr 17, 2015 09:28pm

As far as I can recall the other party involved in the car accident was not reported firing back and therefore only Kanju's side was firing also the forensic test of bullet killing the victim can prove the guilty party.

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A. Mangal

Apr 17, 2015 10:43pm

Ultimately at the end of the day, Mustafa Kanju will be a free man. And that's the judicial process of the country where privileged never get sentenced for the crime they commit. Remember the saying, Justice delayed justice denied!

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Parvez

Apr 17, 2015 10:56pm

Its an open-and-shut case.......this extra time appears to be deliberate in order to muddy the evidence and get Kanju off.......justice for the rich and powerful is different than justice for the poor and weak.

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Arshad

Apr 17, 2015 10:56pm

Why is this dragging on ? Because Kanju is trying to use all possible means to evade sentence. From your report it seems that he is lying thru and thru. Let the law take care with honesty and justice.

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azi

Apr 18, 2015 04:05am

why was he carrying a gun in his car ....just because of a car accident he chose to indiscriminate fire, His Father if still a minister should also resign....enough is enough Pakistan.

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