Zainab Murder: 23-year-old neighbour confesses to rape and murder of Pakistani child

Imran Ali (23) was a frequent visitor of murdered Pakistani child Zainab's house in Kasur city in Pakistan's Punjab province. The murder and rape of the young girl, who in a video was seen walking off with an unidentified man sent ripples of shock through Pakistan. Today, Imran's confesion of the ghastly crime led to his arrest in the high-profile rape and murder case. Police sources confirmed suspect Imran Ali had confessed to his crime before an investigation team. A DNA test is awaited to confirm the alleged confession.

Imran was familiar with Zainab's family and would also frequent the minor girl's house, police sources said. Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmad said that Ali had confessed to his crime. "Imran Ali's DNA test is underway and hopefully we will have the report later in the day," Ahmad said, adding the suspect has been arrested from Pakpatan district of Punjab.

On January 5, Zainab went missing while going to a religious tuition centre near her house in Kasur city, some 50-km from Lahore. Her parents had been in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and she had been living with her maternal aunt. After her abduction, a CCTV footage showed her walking with a stranger near Peerowala Road.After her abduction, a CCTV footage showed her walking with a stranger near Peerowala Road.

Tragic End: On January 9, her body was recovered from a heap of trash near the Shahbaz Khan Road. The autopsy report confirmed that she was raped 

Police have carried out DNA test of over a 1,000 suspects. The Supreme Court last Sunday gave the Inspector General of Police a 72-hour deadline to arrest the culprit.  Violent protests gripped the Kasur city following Zainab's murder that claimed two lives. The Zainab incident also stirred a national outcry demanding justice for her.

Several of Pakistan's Twitterati tweeted their outrage and condemned the incident-

Shockingly, it was discovered that #Zainab was not #ImranAli's first victim

#Kasur: Speaking to #Zainab’s family & neighbors, a description I’m getting of the said culprit caught by police is as follows. Imran seemed like he doted on children - both girls and boys. Often bought candies for them. Freelanced with construction workers and was Naat khuwan.

What aggravated the situation much further was the nonchalance and lack of seriousness displayed by authorities of the Punjab province. It was worsened by their treatment of Zainab's father, who was in attendance for a press meet. Here is what happened:

To say Pakistani citizens were appalled by the behaviour of their leaders is an understatement

Great that you @CMShehbaz & your team caught #Zainab's killer you do the announcement and go back to prepare for court trial for God's sake do not make it a show and mockery of this success