Govt replaces JIT head in Zainab case after father refuses probe under 'Qadiani'

LAHORE - The Punjab government has replaced head of the joint investigation team (JIT) formed to investigate killing and rape of seven-year-old girl in Kasur.

According to a notification, Additional IG Abu Bakr Khuda Baksh, who was earlier assigned the task, has been replaced by Multan Regional Police Officer DIG Muhammad Idrees.



The move follows a statement by Zainab's father who has demanded that the head of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the case by replaced.

“It has been learnt that the JIT head – Additional IGP Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh – is a ‘Qadiani’,” said Mr Ameen at a press conference in Kasur on Thursday while rejecting the probing team’s leader tasked by the Punjab chief minister yesterday.

Shehbaz Sharif had on Wednesday constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising members of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).



“We don’t have trust in the JIT head,” the victim’s father stated and appealed to “replace him with a Muslim”.

Abubakar Khuda Baksh is the same officer who led a five-member JIT formed by the provincial government to investigate the massive child abuse and extortion scandal in Hussain Khanwala village of Kasur district.



Seven-year-old Zainab was found raped and killed Wednesday, five days after she had gone missing from her home. Police say the girl was kidnapped near her home when she was on her way to take a Quran class. Her parents were in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.