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Zainab's rapist, murderer Imran Ali hanged at Kot Lakhpat Jail
Imran Ali, who was convicted for the rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Amin in Kasur earlier this year, was hanged to death in the early hours of Wednesday in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Central Jail.
Ali was executed in the presence of both Magistrate Adil Sarwar and the deceased's father, Muhammad Amin Ansari, both of whom arrived early morning at the Kot Lakhpat Jail. Zainab's uncle was also present at Kot Lakhpat.
“Imran was taken to the gallows just before dawn and he has been hanged with a rope in the presence of magistrate and a doctor,” local police official Mohammad Afzal said.
An ambulance had also arrived at the scene, accompanied by a brother of the convict as well as two of his friends. A medical officer as well as Kot Lakhpat's superintendent were in the jail as well.
Contingents of police and anti-riot forces surrounded Kot Lakhpat jail at the time of Ali's hanging.
Talking to the media after the execution, Ansari regretted that the authorities did not allow the live telecast of the hanging.
"Zainab would have been seven years, two months old today," he said. "Her mother is devastated from grief."
Ansari also thanked the chief justice of Pakistan and said that the "murderer had met his fate today".
After the execution, Ali's family — accompanied by police contingents — took his body to Kasur. He was expected to be buried later today.
Late on Tuesday evening, jail authorities had arranged a last meeting of some 57 relatives with the death row prisoner.
Zainab's rape and murder ─ the 12th such incident to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in Kasur in one year ─ had sparked outrage and protests across the country following the recovery of the child's body from a trash heap a week after she went missing.
The heinous nature of the crime had seen immediate riots break out in Kasur — in which two people were killed — while #JusticeforZainab became a rallying cry for an end to violence against children.
Zainab had gone to a religious tuition centre near her house in the Road Kot area on Jan 4 from where she is believed to have been abducted. Her parents had been in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah, according to her family, and she had been living with a maternal aunt.
Soon after her abduction, her panicked family had received footage showing her walking with a stranger near Peerowala Road. On Jan 9, a police constable deputed to trace the girl recovered her body from a heap of trash near the Shahbaz Khan Road.
Read more: Jacket buttons helped police identify Zainab's killer
Police had said the girl seemed to have been killed four or five days earlier.
Prime suspect
A first information report had been registered against the disappearance of the girl on Jan 5, with the victim's paternal uncle as the complainant in the case. Murder charges were added to the FIR on Jan 9, after the victim's body was recovered.
Police had confirmed on Jan 13 that the results of DNA testing of samples collected from the crime scenes pointed towards the involvement of one culprit in at least seven similar cases in the district.
Read more: 'Why is DNA evidence not given weight in Pakistani courts?'
The Punjab government had declared the arrest of Ali, the prime suspect, on January 23 after a widespread manhunt.
The ATC had on Feb 17, 2018, handed down death sentence on four counts to the 24-year-old convict, following a four-day jail trial at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
The death penalty was handed down under four sections of laws including 364-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) (kidnapping a person under the age of fourteen), 376 of the PPC (rape), 302-B of the PPC (murder) and section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (for terrorising society by an act).
The court had further awarded life imprisonment to the convict under section 377 of PPC (unnatural offence/sodomy) and seven-year jail term under section 201 of PPC (dumping the dead body). The court had also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the convict to be paid to the legal heirs of the victim, in addition to a collective fine of Rs3.2m imposed under different sections of law.
Read more: How authorities tracked down suspect in Zainab’s case
Since then, Ali was indicted and sentenced to death in the rape and murder cases of at least six other minor girls.
Appeals against death sentence
He subsequently filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court challenging the death sentence handed to him in the Zainab case in February, claiming that his trial was not fair. The LHC rejected his appeal and upheld the trial court's conviction. He then appealed to the Supreme Court against the conviction.
On June 12, the SC rejected Ali's appeal against the death sentence handed to him for the rape and murder of Zainab, noting that the petitioner had admitted committing similar offences with eight other minor victims and "in that backdrop, he did not deserve any sympathy in the matter of his sentences".
As a last resort, he sought clemency from President Arif Alvi, but his plea was rejected on Oct 10 and his death warrants were issued by an Anti-Terrorism Court two days later.
The ATC directed the jail superintendent to execute the warrants and submit a compliance report.
Child sexual abuse in Kasur
Kasur had last attained local and international notoriety in 2015 when a gang of paedophiles running a child sex ring was busted in the city.
Read more: Does anyone remember Kasur?
The gang had allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at least 280 children in the area, had blackmailed the families of the victims since 2009, and even sold video clips and images of the assault online.
In the aftermath of Zainab's murder, lawmakers and legal experts had suggested introducing appropriate legislation and stricter legal implementation in order to prevent such incidents in the future.
Senator Raza Rabbani had said that when the Kasur child abuse scandal surfaced in 2015, he had raised concerns that the outrage would die down within a few days, which is why it is necessary that the government take long-term measures to ensure the safety of children.
Laws for the protection of children must be made in line with international laws, he said, and existing laws that deal with crimes against women could be expanded to include crimes against children.
Laws tackling crimes against children must tackle brutality, child smuggling and different kinds of abuse, including sexual abuse, he had recommended, adding that stronger legal implementation and punishment of criminals is necessary to avoid such incidents from occurring.
Comments (156) Closed
Pakistan government should abolish capital punishment.
Justice served. Well done.
Justice has been served, but a teachable moment has been lost by not excecuting him in public.
well done! but where was she help captive for 3-4 days after being kidnapped? furthermore " the 12th such incident to occur within a 10-kilometre radius in Kasur in one year", what about abductors of other four cases? when are they going to be hanged? it has been 9 years since the 250 videos scandal surfaced. Why justice hasn't been served to those victims? We want answers Punjab police!
Hanging one person is well done but not enough!
We can say atleast justice is been done.
I am impressed.. if that happened in India it would have taken 25 years to hang the culprit
Such strong punishments will deter future criminals. Most appreciated!
Justice served. Thanks Courts thanks CJP.
corrupt politicians who looted in the name of democracy ,should also meet the same fate
Finally. Justice has been served.
Congratulations for speedy justice.In India it is very slow.Nirvaya case convicts are still alive.
The End....!!!! The real people behind took sign of relief.....???
Sad.... while the crime he committed was unforgivable, somehow I feel that guy was mentally sick. Death penalty should be reserved for dangerous criminals who continue to pose threat to the society.
Sigh*
Good Pakistan has one less child sex rapist. Get the others now. We need to clean out Pakistan from these low life criminals. Thanks to our judiciary.
A tragedy for both families hers and his- an innocent 6 years old fell victim to a predator, sex fiend . Zainab 's tragedy is a warning to all parents that children left alone , walking in the street without supervision are never safe.
Arrested and hanged after 12 murders. That too after country wide protest. Surprisingly the murderer was a common man living in the vicinity. Had police arrested him after first kidnapping, no one would have suffered.
Good news.
Kudos to all for fast tracking the cAse
No paradise. Take the stairway going down.
Normally I feel sad on the loss of human life but in this case I am happy that justice is done and a murderer met his fate.
The proper way of punishing the culprit. well done Pakistan.
Justice served
I wish we had similar judiciary speed for such gruesome and brutal rape cases in India? Rest In Peace now Zeinab.
Prompt action ,hope such cruel crimes may not happen again.Similar fast punishment is expected in India also
Well done to Pakistan for such a speedy capture, trial and punishment of such animals.....
What if protests never happend?
Saddened for the loss of innocent children. Just one death sentence was not enough punishment for his crimes.
It was needed.
I wish all trials are done with this speed!
Good one.
Corrupt politicians should be next in the same way
"gang had allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at least 280 children in the area"
So where are the others??
Endorsed............
not satisfied punishment should be more harder for child rapist
@Anti-Corruption
Yes how did he pose a threat to society, roaming around, assaulting and killing young souls. He was serving the society wasn't he?
Shut up for all activists against the capital punishment.
Welldone!! justice served...
@M. Emad I think you have special sympathy for such criminals, I have seen commenting you every where asking govt to abolish capital punishment. Well sir what do you propose then? Let them free and enjoy whatever they want?
@P Nag The police and the courts had orders from the very top because the father was a well-connected man and the case got lots of attention. The justice system in Pakistan still needs a lot of work.
@M. Emad why don’t you try demanding the same in your country India.
@M. Emad try to be in the shoes of Zainab's father.
@M. Emad So should they welcome and appreciate such culprits? Hats off!
Justice Served , Zainab's Soul will rest in peace now,
Alhamdulillah ! Justice served timely.... this was a heinous crime no doubt, but in my opinion law should be upheld in every walk of life ... it can be from breaking a signal, throwing trash on roads...If laws are Implemented in true spirit, like in this case, the police registered the F.I.R timely, action was taken by the Police, DNA sampling was done, proper trial was conducted with the provision of appeals to higher authorities, this should happen for criminal and civil all cases. Pakistan will blossom like a flower if this starts happening for at least 25% of the cases pending here, judiciary will be empowered, ordinary citizens will gain power and respect police and all judiciaries, as of now the police is being used as private security guards of politicians, and politicians are influencing judgments in courts and tribunals which is hindering the path to success. Well Done ! Pakistan this is victory for Pakistan and Zainab !
Victory of Law
Great Justice.If,Pakistan will impose the law that whoever will guilt any rape charges,they will hang up.Then,these cases minimized at large scale.
Good news after long time.
For the last few days your paper is not available in DHA Lahore.
@Javed In earlier period, when there was no media, publicity of the punishment was possible with hanging at public place. Today, the news across world in moments, this should serve as teachable moment for those who require such teaching. So public hanging is not required at all. Anyway, there are people will still not learn. You can not do much about this. Continuous and consistent law enforcement is the only answer.
Eventually met his fate.
Police should maintain a national sex offenders register to keep an eye on those who have tendencies to commit sexual offences.
@M. Emad You are supporting an animal in human look !!
@M. Emad Why ? So murderers, rapists and terrorists killing school children should go free ?
It's the good initiative by the Pakistani judiciary. I hope every rapist and abusive will get lession.
Good to know that justice is served but I have to request to media not to post this culprit's nice smiling face photo. His photo should not be there.
@M. Emad why should they?
@Anti-Corruption
He was not only mentally sick but was posing threat to the society as well while killing the girls as well. Its unbelievable to see some people are so ignorant like you.
@Javed Javed Bhai, execution in public would have had severe psychological and mental ill effects of people. Especially, children. Opportunity is not lost, instead authorities should make it clear to public by all the means available (paper news, electronic news, social media, advertisement any thing) that a guilt is punished and no person is above the law.
Well done Pakistan.
@M. Emad Just give one solid reason of why not ?
@Anti-Corruption how do u know he was mentally sick?
@M. Emad What is your problem with it ? People take lesson from it which stops them from doing such a crime .
@M. Emad For what reason? So people like him can go free? No way!
@M. Emad Is it because Zainab was not your daughter?. what a shameful comment.
Justice still can never come to Zainab and all the little girls violated in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world ever. Today we are celebrating the 8th day of Navaratri in India. May the Divine Mother Durga grant all these victimized children eternal peace. And I don't want to say anything for the evil fellow, the perpetrator, no matter where, in India, or Pakistan or elsewhere in the world, even though he's dead!!!
Justice served. But very unfortunate that so many little girls had to go through the unthinkable tragedy and it was only after media frenzy Zainab case that he was nabbed. Why not same was applied for the first case.We also need to keep a close eye on our kids too.
Hope w children are safe now
@M. Emad
I understand it is natural to feel sorry for someone getting hanged but imagine if Zainab was your daughter. Would you still be against capital punishment?
@Anti-Corruption you think child abusers and rapists are not a threat to the society?
@Anti-Corruption a repeat sex/rape offender does not seem like a "dangerous criminal" to you? Children are the future of any nation and anything that jeopardizes that deserves the severest of punishments!
@M. Emad Why should that be ?
@M. Emad...Please imagine the pain of Zaineb and her parents then answer..WHY Pakistan should abolish capital punishment???
Excellent. All such heinous criminals must be hanged to disseminate a clear message in society. No mercy.
What about other killer terrorists who are on death row still not executed?
@M. Emad What about Bangladesh. You have hanged so may people
@M. Emad Do you have any good reason for your point of view?
@M. Emad I think you are not a father yet!!
Indian judicial system should learn from this...child rapist should be served with capital punishments...to set the tone of the society...he was proven guilty and this shameful hanging was his only last resort...period.
A good judgement and the culprit hanged without any legal and procedural delay. In some so-called democratic countries a simple case like this would have been dragged for decades and the accused would have walked out of jail as innocent. I salute the man who put the beast in to the guilletin.
Indian system has to learn from this...child rapist should get speedy time bound capital punishment,,,thats it.
@Anti-Corruption you were his doctor?
I am against death penalty,but if someone deserves it, it probably would be this guy.
@Sam Because hundred human rights expert will use the situation asking for abolition of capital punishment and talk about that killing this person will not change anything, crime will not be reduced. Pakistan is better off in this regard in not caring about such people.
Well done! This should teach a lesson and justice served as per islamic laws.
On the other hand, courts should also investigate why this person had so much power to do it to 6-7 other girls? Under who's supervision he was acting? And why the police never took action against him before? Who were the influential people that allowed him to commit such heinous crimes?
Kudos to Pakistan government. Rapists like this guy, should be hanged. Infact they should be killed by firing squad in public. They, who prey on children, who rape a girl or woman, have no right to live. I wish, India also someday carry out such punishment for rapists.
Kudos to Pakistan for the speedy execution of the late Zainab's killer. Here in India, the killers of Nirbhaya are still enjoying their prison stay at tax payers expense for the crime they committed in 2015. May little Zainab RIP in eternal peace.
There can be no justice for the deceased, nor her family. Just the thought of the horror that a six year old had go thru is heart wrenching, that the parents will be reminded for the rest of their lives.
The height of hypocrisy. The murderers of 164 innocent people are treated like King in Pakistan, no justice done till date.
@M. Emad why specially in this particular instance?
Media should have a live interview with culprit and show the people about the mental state of this person.
@M. Emad It's easy to preach until a personal tragedy strikes.
An appreciated step, however future actions to prevent such actions like the ones with Poor Child Zainab should be taken at the earliest.
savage met his fate.
@M. Emad to let this monster live on people’s money. Get real some do need to be made an example for others.
Feeling Good!
Justice served to this abhorrent animal.
I hope they have hanged the right man because honestly I can't see the police in the subcontinent carry out such a painstaking and thorough investigation in a short span of time. Nevertheless I absolutely endorse death penalty for such monsters in human form.
No doubt criminal justice system in Pakistan is excellent comparing to India.
@Anti-Corruption the fact he kept repeating the crimes (he didn’t just do this once) means he was a danger to the public... mentally sick yes but fully in control of his actions - he got what he deserved
Great job by Pakistan judiciary and administration. Justice served in time serves the purpose. Hope other criminals take note of it and crimes come down in entire region including in India.
While zainab's family has had irreparable loss...other children in the nearby vicinity will be safe
Swift and speedy justice. Excellent work by the Pakistani judicial system. Only word of caution - let's hope guilt was proved beyond all reasonable doubt. If not, two murders have been committed -
I would be interested to read any actual studies that suggest capital punishments work as a deterrent. In the west in most countries there is no capital punishment anymore. While the crime he committed was most horrific but a lifetime in jail would be an even worse punishment, where he wakes up everyday for several more years knowing what he did and also knowing he is not getting out of the jail, ever.
FAO Esitor of this news I am happy that rapist has been punished according to the law but I am bit sad to see the picture of the guy in this news as if he is hero or something. Picture posted for this news should have been so that the people could not get any encouragement. It should have been a picture of disgust not eating a turban and smiling. I would request to remove this quickly and replace with another picture giving a message so that no one should think of doing this. Urgent reply required. Regards Zarar
Big salute to Pakistan judicial system for prompt judgement...lessons to be learnt for Indian Judicial system.
@M. Emad WHY?
There were 11-12 such incidents, if Police had caught the culprit earlier innocent lives would have been saved, unless those involved in this negligence are not taken to task this will continue to happen, justice has not been severed in entirety, otherwise those people would also be in jail or at least out of job.
Keen to know convicted point of view, why he thought that the trail is unfair?
@M. Emad Please talk to the parents of the victim and then tell me your stance.
Good ridden and justice prevailed.
More culprits of such heinous crimes shall be executed. No mercy for those who don't mercy on others.
@M. Emad Capital punishment is the only way to stop such heinous crime. No mercy for those who don't mercy on others.
He deserved punishment Agreed,,,,,
But they should have done more research on this person if he was psychotic, what were the factors that forced him to do this.
If he was a part of dark web then they couldve done more research and contain occurrence of such cases..
@Anonymouseeeee - He is from Bangladesh.
@M. Emad mind your own damn business.
Well done to Pakistan
@Sid Even supposing he were not fully in control of his actions, which I doubt, death penalty would still be the only solution. A criminal like him cannot be rehabilitated and a third world country like ours cannot afford to keep housing and feeding him for a life time. It would be kinder to him to put him out of his misery.
I have my concerns and doubts regarding death penalty but no sympathy for those convicted in heinous crimes against children and women and when they are convicted by solid proofs like DNA. I hope it gives some closure to her parents and I have sympathy with Imran's family too. I wished they raised their kid better than he actually turned out to be.
Very good lesson for all those indulge in such murderous and heinous crime in the society.
@Sam Yes...in the name of human rights!!
DNA test everyone in the country, It will deter criminals and save lives by faster detection
@M. Emad Does it concern you or your nation? I don't think so.
@M. Emad Why?
Good, but it would be more good if he had been hanged in public as the other culprits could take a lesson from it.
Look at the old and young woman and his baby daughter :(
why ?
@Sam Our system is rotten
@Javed Kindly read some research work done on the subject by scholars. Public hangings have not been proven to be a deterrent in crimes.
Justice done .yet the little parrri 'll NEVER come back. She 'll forever reside in her little box under tons of mud.
@Majid Most sensible comment indeed!
@Deepak Nagori It has been shown the world over that death penalty NO a deterrence.
Good Riddance!
A Big No!
@Sam This is Naya Pakistan.
@M. Emad Abolishing capital punishment means allowing beasts to do whatever they want to do.
Well done , the person should have been hanged in public to set an example and desist people from such crime
Wow death sentence even hanging within few months time that mean Pakistan law and order is 1000 stronger then India .well done Pakistan
The evil-doer got what he deserved. A minor child should never be left unsupervised and / or unattended, this is the child's right and this is what she/he deserves.
@M. Emad and the 61 retards who endorsed your comment. Keep your squeamishness to yourselves. Have you read the details of the case, and how the body was so callously dumped? Raping and killing a helpless child should result in death, so that a clear message is sent out that playing with someone's life makes you lose yours.
Destory anyone that does this type of crime. Great Pakistan. Justice Served
Well done for quick justice
Capital punishment is must for corrupt criminal peoples of pakistan
@Medu ,Talk some sense. People against capital punishment are not saying such culprits should be allowed to roam around free in the streets. All they are saying that these criminals are suffering from mental illness, they should be kept behind bars for all their life but shouldnt be killed for their mental sickness.
@M. Emad , I agree with you 100%. Such criminals are suffering from mental illness. They should be confined behind bars for all their lives because they are dangerous for society; but they shouldn't be killed for their mental illness
@Anti-Corruption You mean after murdering 7 children, somehow, on his own he was going to stop? Get real!!!! The fate he met in the end must always be handed to those who commit these crimes....every single time.
Now an investigation should be done against the police stations in the area and why they were unable to reach the culprit when first 2-3 kids disappeared. Rather than carrying out proper investigations, they were having tea and donuts and asking parents money. If it wasn't for the media and riots, this number could have easily gone to 25. What failed them and how these precious innocent lives could have been saved!!!
@M. Emad No, lt is necessary because it acts as deterrent for those planning similar crimes. It also saves money for getting rid of rotten criminals.
@Sam: Justice overnight without has sent too many innocent victims to gallows.
@M. Emad All medical practitioners should also abandon surgical removal and amputation from their treatment procedures.
Probably it is also the time for parents to reflect if we are doing service to our children by leaving them in the custody of relatives, friends and servants. Zainab would have been probably alive if she had been living with the parents.
How does this benefit society that life imprisonment with labor could not? Capital punishment does not deter crime.
Justice at last. It should be lesson to other rapists. But teaching a good morals and how to respect women should start from home by the parents and also in school curriculum. It is very difficult to change a person by imposing law, at the end of the day - person mindset need to change with good education at home, school and society, especially in India and Pakistan My condolences to Zainab from India
An examplary punishment and that too very quick. All the credit to the civil society and judiciary of the country.
@Erum
Educate yourself.Paedophilia is not defined as 'mental illness' as in the common Pakistani lingo .It is not recognised as as a psychiatric disorder for good reason. These perverts are fully aware of what they are doing ,they know it is wrong , otherwise why would they try to hide their sins? What you saying that rapists should be treated as mental health patients? They are addicted to this abnormal behaviour because it makes them feel powerful ,it's primitive behaviour of the predator hunting it's prey, except these are humans.This is criminal behaviour ,it was planned and premediated . Why should they be locked up for life at the taxpayers expense? They should be publicly humiliated and publicly punished to send a clear message of zero tolerance.
Well done. Now bring the others to justice. There are many more.
@M. Emad Yes except crimes involving innocent children.
Thanks to DNA technology and examplary professionalism of the Police and Judiciary in resolving this complex crime in record time.
Photo above doesn't suits his crime.
justice has been served. lets hope its done in all cases specially the one's like this one.