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Pakistan

Justice for Zainab: Verdict on minor's rape and murder case stirs reactions on Twitter

Dunya News

The hashtag (#ZainabMurderCase) remained the top trend in Pakistan on Twitter following the much anticipated verdict. Photo: Reuters

(Web Desk) – Following the handing down of death sentence to accused Imran Ali on four counts in Zainab’s rape and murder case on Saturday, there was a lot of buzz on Twitter over the harrowing case that had haunted Pakistanis for weeks.

The verdict that was announced by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge Sajjad Ahmed at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Saturday became one of the top trends on social networking website Twitter.

The hashtag (#ZainabMurderCase) remained the top trend in Pakistan on Twitter with people, and noted personalities including politicians and journalists, tweeting after the verdict. While people expressed relief over the death sentence, others called for public execution of Ali – a demand that has been made by Zainab’s mother as well.

Twitter remained one of the most active platforms for public at large in Pakistan to vent out their anger following the emergence of reports regarding the rape and murder of 7-year-old Zainab earlier this year. Hashtag ‘Justice for Zainab’ became a top trend in the days following the gruesome murder, as activists and politicians used the platform to pressure the government into action.

Punjab Prosecutor General Ahtesham Qadar, who personally attended the hearings of the case on the orders of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, said the death penalties were handed down for kidnapping, raping and killing a minor and one for committing an act of terrorism.

It is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a trial was completed in four days with 13-hour-long proceedings held daily, reported Dunya News.

Seven-year-old Zainab went missing on January 4 on her way back to home from her maternal aunt’s house. On January 8, her body was found in a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

 

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Human Rights
Pakistan