KASUR: The only survivor among the eight minor victims of the Kasur serial rapist and killer, Imran, who was executed in Zainab case, was hospitalised again on Monday, after a nine-month break in her treatment because of suspension of the financial aid announced by the last PML-N government.

The proper medical treatment of the six-year-old girl ‘K’ (full name withheld as per the newspaper’s policy) was resumed on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Asiya Gul after District Police Officer Imran Kishwar visited her family and raised the issue.

Stipend for minor girl’s treatment was ‘suspended’ nine months back

On the evening of Nov 13, 2017, ‘K’, daughter of a labourer, had gone suddenly missing and was later found in a critical condition on a heap of garbage near a local park. She was admitted to the district headquarters hospital, where the doctors confirmed she was raped and referred her to the Children’s Hospital, Lahore.

Following the incident, the then chief minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced Rs50,000 monthly stipend for the poor family of the minor girl for her treatment. However, some nine months back the stipend was reportedly stopped and the girl’s treatment was suspended. Her parents tried their best to get the stipend restored, but to no avail.

The mother of the minor girl told Dawn that ‘K’ was discharged from the Children’s Hospital a few months after her admission.

She said no one from the government contacted them after the serial rapist and killer, Imran, was traced and executed on court orders and the case went off the media glare.

In 2018, the culprit Imran was hanged for sexually abusing and killing seven minor girls, including Zainab, after a speedy trial that was reported by local as well as international media.

DPO Imran Kishwar had visited the girl’s family a few days back at Khudian town, and on knowing about their plight took up the issue with the Punjab government.

According to Mr Kishwar, the girl was still in trauma and her family was too poor to afford her proper treatment.

The DPO said he had written to the Punjab government for restoration of financial aid to the family for proper treatment of the girl.

DC Ms Gul also visited the family on Monday and ordered shifting the girl to the DHQ Hospital for treatment.

An official said the girl would be again referred to the Children’s Hospital if suggested by the doctors.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2021