Pakistan: Minor girl allegedly raped and murdered in Kasur, protest erupts

People reportedly protested against  perceived police inaction follwoing the rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab.

The minor, a resident of Road Kot area of Kasur, was kidnapped on her way to a tuition centre on January 5, according to police, reported Geo News.

Four days after she was abducted, her body was reportedly found in a garbage pile in Kashmir Chowk area.

The initial postmortem report of the minor stated that she was strangled to death after being raped multiple times, Geo News reported.

The parents of the minor were in Saudi Arabia to perform umrah when the incident occurred.

They claimed that the police did not cooperate in finding their missing child.

"If the police would have acted immediately, the culprit would have been caught," Zainab's father was quoted as saying by Geo News.

Meanwhile,  Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed for all out support to the civil administration for the arrest of those behind the crime.

He tweeted: "COAS condemns cold blooded murder of innocent Zainab. Responding to appeal by the aggrieved parents to COAS, directs immediate all out support to civil administration to arrest the criminals and bringing them to exemplary justice."

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also instructed authorities to immediately arrest the culprits.

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif tweeted: "Deeply pained about murder of a 8-year old girl in a child molestation case. Those societies that cannot protect its children are eternally condemned. Not going to rest till the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended & given severest possible punishment under the law."

"Just presided over a meeting of police & administration officials. Made it absolutely clear to them that lip service would not work. I want the culprits involved in this heinous crime behind the bars. Those failing in their duties will be proceeded against. Very painful incident!," he said.

Led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s Tahir-ul-Qadri, the funeral prayer of the deceased was held on Wednesday.

The political community of the country reacted strongly against the incident and demanded justice for the girl.

Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called it 'devastating'.

"The horrific crime perpetrated in Kasur is devastating. Pakistan needs to reevaluate how it deals with such crimes, especially those against children. My prayers and heartfelt sympathies with the family. We must all stand with victims of abuse,"
he tweeted.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the youngest daughter of late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari, said: "#JusticeForZainab she was only 7 years old !!! Zainab was an innocent child and she was horrifically tortured & murdered, my heart breaks for her family. May Allah give them strength #UniteAgainstChildAbuse."

PTI chief Imran Khan posted: "The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society. This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected."

Image: Imran Khan Twitter page