Zainab rape-murder: Angry protesters storm PML-N lawmaker’s office in Kasur

KASUR - An enraged mob on Thursday stormed the residence-cum-office of local lawmaker over the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Punjab’s Kasur district.

Footage on media channels show a group of protesters forcing their entry into the dera (political office) of PML-N’s Naeem Safdar Ansari and set fire to chairs and vehicles parked in the area.

The demonstrators gathered shortly after funeral prayers for two men who were shot dead by Punjab police on Wednesday over the murder of Zainab, who was laid to rest amid scenes of mourning and tears on Wednesday night.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/innocent-zainab-laid-to-rest-amid-tears-demand-for-justice/

Safdar, who was elected from PP-177 (Kasur-III), was not present at his office at the time of attack.

Heavy contingents of police responded to the attempt by firing tear gas shells, even though they failed to disperse the protesters who pelting the police with stones.



Protests broke out in the city soon after the body of seven-year old girl, who went missing last week, was found dumped in a trash pile. It is the 12th such incident of the same nature in Kasur, in which minor girls were molested and murdered after abduction. Culprits, involved in any of these incidents, have not been apprehended.



Earlier in the day, some of the demonstrators attacked District Headquarters Hospital hours after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the bereaved family to offer his condolence.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/kasur-rape-case-shehbaz-sharif-announces-rs10mln-reward-on-accuseds-arrest/

Despite all the hue and cry, the police have not been able to arrest the man who was seen taking her along in the CCTV video.

Tempers are running high in Kasur as the stick wielding protesters took to streets blocking roads forcing and enforcing market closures for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/kasur-rape-case-zainabs-father-lashes-out-at-police-for-inaction/

Protesters took to streets, forcing closure of markets and setting many vehicles on fire. Two people were reported killed during the clashes with police when a group of protesters stormed the office of Deputy Commissioner.

Meanwhile, two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against police personnel over opening fire on the protesters.



Chief Justice Saqib Nisar has also taken the suo moto notice of brutal rape and murder, ordering Inspector General Punjab (IGP) to submit the report in next 24 hour in this connection.

Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa strongly condemned cold blooded murder of minor girl Zainab in Kasur, directing immediate all out support to civil administration to arrest the criminals and bringing them to exemplary justice.

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.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) January 10, 2018

Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai also condemned the minor’s murder, saying she was heartbroken to hear about Zainab.

Heartbroken to hear about Zainab - a 7 year old child abused and brutally killed in Kasur, Pakistan. This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action. #JusticeForZainab

— Malala (@Malala) January 10, 2018