Zainab murder case: SC orders to form a new JIT


The Supreme Court (SC) Lahore Registry began the hearing of Zainab’s rape and murder case on Sunday after the top court’s judge took suo motu notice of the Kasur tragedy occurred earlier this month.

The apex court dissolved the current JIT team, and ordered for the formation of a new one under the leadership of a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officer. Moreover, the CJP also barred Zainab’s parents and lawyer from talking to the media, and has directed them to cooperate fully with the police.

The court has also ordered Punjab police to submit the challan of details as early as possible.

Shahid Masood backtracks from claims of Zainab’s murderer holding foreign bank accounts

Dr Shahid Masood appeared in court for the hearing, and was asked by Justice Nisar to explain his claims and a video of his show was played during the hearing. The court has asked Masood to submit evidences behind his claims and to “stop beating around the bush.”

Top court also informed Masood that his name could be placed on Exit Control List (ECL), and that he won’t be spared until he submits evidence behind his claims.

A special 3-member bench was formed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar for the case of 8-year-old victim. The bench addressed claims made by anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood that the key suspect, Imran Ali, had multiple bank accounts.

However, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in a press release on Friday, revealed that no bank accounts existed under Ali’s name.

Punjab Inspector-General Capt Arif Zaman Khan, Director-General of Punjab Forensics Science Agency Ashraf Tahir, head of the JIT formed for investigation Muhammad Idrees, and Zainab’s father Amin Ansari were also present in court.

The court had already issued notices to them and Dr Shahid Masood earlier as well.

The court sought other officers including media owners, senior journalists, anchors and journalists from different organisations for the hearing. Hameed Haroon, Shakil-ur-Rehman, Ibn Abdur Rehman, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shani, Kamran Khan, Hamid Mir, Fahad Hussain, Kashif Abbasi, Mian Amir Mahmood, Sarmad Ali and Zia Shahid have been summoned.

On Friday, Dr Shahid Masood backtracked from his statement alleging Zainab’s murderer owned 37 bank accounts, hinting at a child pornography scandal, saying that things are often misreported.

Speaking to the Express News the anchorperson said that investigation was not his responsibility and it was the job of state institutions to find the authenticity of the news.

LHC orders ATC to hold daily proceedings

“I did not provide this information with any wrong intent,” he said.

Masood, in his TV show claimed that the government of Punjab had brazenly lied to people and was later summoned by the Supreme Court to clarify and back his accusations.

Case was registered against him in Rawalpindi for kidnapping a married woman

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    Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/1620131/1-sc-lahore-registry-begins-hearing-zainabs-rape-murder-case/