Zainab murder case: SC turns down appeal against convict's death sentence
The appeal stated that the trial court announced the verdict contrary to the facts.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Supreme Court (SC) Lahore registry on Tuesday has turned down appeal against death sentence of seven-year-old Zainab Ansari’s rapist and murderer Imran Ali.
The appeal stated that the trial court announced the verdict contrary to the facts over which, Zainab’s lawyer said that the suspect killed the girl after rape which was proved in the court.
The bench comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah dismissed the plea and upheld the death sentence.
Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) had disposed of plea filed by convict Imran Ali against his death sentence in seven-year-old Zainab’s murder case.
The judge questioned lawyer of Imran that the culprit filed a plea to reduce his sentence while you are giving arguments for his bail.
On February 17, ATC handed over four counts of death penalty to Imran while he was also given four separate death sentences after being convicted of the rape and murder of Zainab, as well as terrorism charges, prosecutor general of Punjab province Ihtesham Qadir said after a special anti-terrorism court passed its judgement.
The prosecutors said he received further life imprisonment and fines totalling 3.2 million rupees ($30,000) for additional charges of hiding his victim s body. The suspect can file an appeal against the decision within 15 days, he added.
One million rupees of the fine would be given in compensation to Zainab’s family, public prosecutor Abdul Rauf Wattoo said.
Seven-year-old Zainab went missing on January 4 on her way back to home from maternal aunt’s house. On January 8, her body was found in a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.
Zainab had marks of torture on nose, neck, and other parts of the body and was raped before murder, revealed medical report.
The guardians complained upon return from Umrah that the police did not cooperate with the relatives, who were looking for the missing minor.
