Police have arrested the murderer of seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur after a DNA match and polygraph confirmed a 24-year-old neighbor’s involvement in the heinous crime, official confirmed Tuesday.
The culprit, Imran Ali, son of Arshad, is a serial rapist and killer of kids, according to authorities. He has confessed to his crimes.
The suspected killer was arrested from Pakpattan town in the south of Punjab. The culprit changed his appearance after committing the crime, and even joined protesters against the crime he himself had committed.
The man seen in the CCTV footages walking with little Zainab Amin had a beard but soon after that he shaved his beard, and reportedly also was among those who were seemingly helping the family trace the little girl after she went missing on January 4. Her body was recovered from a trash and medical examination found she had been brutally raped and killed.
According to reports Imran Ali Arshad was among the suspects initially arrested by the police and was released after his blood was taken for DNA testing. Reportedly the family of Zainab did not consider him a suspect, and was a frequent visitor known to the family.
Chief Minister of the province Shahbaz Sharif said the culprit would be tried in an anti-terrorism court so that he gets an exemplary punishment.
As the news of the arrest broke, residents of Kasur city surrounded the house of the serial killer. But a contingent of police in riot gear were soon deployed to secure the surrounding area.
Malik Ahmed Khan, a spokesperson for the Punjab government, told media how the suspect used to disguise himself.
“Sometimes he would keep a beard, sometimes he would wear spectacles, and he would change his clothes,” Khan said.
Some of the suspect’s accomplices are also said to be in police custody.
