LAHORE: Imran Ali, convicted of rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur, was taken to the gallows just before dawn on Wednesday and was hanged in the presence of a magistrate, a doctor and the victim’s father in Kot Lakhpat jail.

A jail official said that Imran was hanged at 5.30am. Black warrants for his execution were issued by an anti-terrorism court on Friday. The brother of the convict and his two friends along with an ambulance had already arrived at the jail to receive the body. After the execution, they took his body to his native city, Kasur, for burial.

In his last wish, Imran advised his brothers and other relatives never to commit such a mistake in their life to avoid embarrassment. “I am ashamed of what I did and seek forgiveness and mercy of Allah,” reads the last wish of the convicted murderer handed over to his family before execution. He also appealed to the law enforcement agencies not to disturb his family after his execution as he had got punishment for his sin.

Victim’s father witnesses execution

Talking to the media after the execution, Zainab’s father Haji Ameen Ansari said the authorities did not accept his plea for public hanging of the murderer. However, he added, “I am satisfied that the justice is done, as I witnessed the murderer’s execution myself.”

Zainab was kidnapped on Jan 4, 2018 on her way to her aunt’s house in Kasur where she used to go to learn the Holy Quran. Her body was recovered from a heap of garbage near her house five days later. Widespread protests erupted in Kasur after her murder. The police later identified the murderer through DNA tests of over 1,100 suspects.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018