Mother wants public execution for Pakistan serial killer who raped and murdered 7-year-old daughter
Zainab Ansari’s murder ignited nationwide protests over allegations of government inaction, and a media campaign led to man’s arrest after years of him being on the loose
A Pakistani court has handed four death sentences to a man charged with raping and murdering a six-year-old girl, in a case that shocked the country and sparked major riots in his home district.
Imran Ali, 24, was on trial for killing Zainab Ansari in the eastern city of Kasur last month.
He faces further charges in the cases of at least seven other children attacked in the Punjab city – five of whom were murdered – in a spate of assaults that had stoked fears a serial child killer was on the loose. He has confessed to all eight attacks, including the death of Zainab.
Ali was handed four separate death sentences Saturday after being convicted of the rape and murder of Zainab, as well as terrorism charges, prosecutor general of Punjab province Ihtesham Qadir said after a special anti-terrorism court passed its judgement.
Under Pakistani law, crimes that are considered to have spread terror in society can be charged as acts of terrorism.
The prosecutors said he also received life imprisonment and fines totalling 3.2 million rupees (US$30,000) for additional charges of hiding his victim’s body.