LAHORE: The prime suspect in Zainab murder case Imran Arshad, in a video obtained by ARY News, claimed that he lured the seven-year-old rape-slay victim to come with him by saying that they will be meeting her parents, ARY News reported.
Imran Arshad, who was the victim’s neighbour, was arrested on January 23 after his DNA sample matched the sample obtained from the crime scene following which he confessed raping at least eight girls including Zainab Ansari.
In the video obtained by ARY News today, the accused is telling the interrogators that he lured Zainab to come with him by saying that they will meet her parents (both of whom were performing Umrah then).
WATCH: Zainab’s mother demands exemplary punishment for murderer
When asked if Zainab inquired about where they are going? he said that Zainab asked the question but he satisfied her by saying that they have lost their way.
Sources say the accused is kept under constant surveillance as authorities fear he might commit suicide to escape the punishment.
It is pertinent to mention here that Zainab’s father raised similar concerns when ARY News had asked him about whether he recognises the suspect from CCTV footage or did Zainab know the murderer.
“The way she is going with the man (kidnapper), I can say and it’s my own assumption that the kidnapper knew that we are away for about two weeks now so he may would have told Zainab that he is taking her to meet us (Zainab’s parents),” Zainab’s father had said.
Zainab was with her cousin the day she was kidnapped, says father
#JusticeForZainab
Kidnapped on January 4 and found from a garbage heap on January 9, Zainab’s autopsy report suggested that the minor was sexually assaulted before being strangulated to death.
Justice For Zainab: 7-year-old’s rape, murder shakes Pakistan
The girl’s rape and murder sparked outrage among the residents of the city and whole of Pakistan with social activists and general public starting a trend #JusticeForZainab on social media.
Zainab’s parents were performing Umrah when the incident occurred, as they landed back in Pakistan, they demanded justice from Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
On January 21, the Supreme Court gave three days’ time to a joint investigation team formed to probe the rape and murder of Zainab to track down the culprit.
The Joint Investigation Team formed to arrest the culprit nabbed Imran Arshad on January 23 after the DNA proved that he was behind the rape and murder of Zainab and at least eight other girls from Kasur.
