LHC rejects appeal of Zainab's murderer, upholds capital punishment

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday threw out an appeal of the convicted murderer and rapist of Kasur’s little Zainab against his conviction in the murder and rape case. 

An appellate bench of the high court upheld the conviction of appellant Imran Ali by an anti-terrorism court.

Zainab, who went missing on January 4 from Kasur’s Kot Road area, was found raped, dead and buried in a trash heap in Kasur on January 9.

The horrific incident triggered widespread outrage and protests across the country with people calling for public execution of the culprit.

On Feb 17 , an anti-terrorism court of Lahore awarded four death penalties to the prime suspect, Imran Ali, for raping and murdering the minor in Kasur.

He was also sentenced to life imprisonment and a separate 7-year jail term. The court also asked him to pay a collective fine of Rs 3.1 million.

The court conducted the swiftest trial in Pakistan’s judicial history at Kot Lakhpat Jail and concluded proceedings within four days.

In his appeal, the convict’s counsel contended that his client confessed to having committed the crime in order to save court’s time.

In developed countries, he added, courts take lenient approach toward those criminals who make confessional statements.

But, the ATC which handed down four death penalties to Imran, didn’t took this fact into consideration, the lawyer argued.

He requested the high court to curtail his client’s punishment keeping in view his confessional statement.