Pakistan erupts in anger over 7-year-old's rape, murder

[Viceroy]

Massive protests and riots rocked Pakistan's Kasur, a city located in the Punjab state near the Indian border, over the rape and murder of a seven-year-old minor girl, whose body was found buried in garbage, Pakistani media reported. Protesters, angry over what they believe is police inaction in the girl's rape and murder, stormed the streets demonstrating outside government buildings over what Pakistani media said was the 12th such crime in Kasur in the last one year. A Dawn report said that two people had died in clashes with police and other security personnel. The two deaths were due to gunshot wounds, Dawn reported and quoted the Punjab government as saying that six people, including four policemen, were arrested for opening fire on protestors.

I want justice! I want justice! - Zainab's mother According to a The Express Tribune report, the death of two people in police firing further exacerbated the already tense situation in Kasur. "We just want justice for Zainab," a protester was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. "We are not here to hurt anyone. I don't know why the police opened fire." Zainab is the seven-year-old girl who was found dead earlier this week. A post-mortem confirmed that she was raped before being strangled to death, Dawn reported. WHAT HAPPENED Zainab Ansari, the minor girl whose death ignited protests, was reported missing last week, news agency Reuters reported. Soon after she went missing, CCTV footage of the girl being led away by a suspect went viral on social media, said a Dawn report. Zainab's body was finally discovered on Tuesday in a garbage dump. Police said Zainab was strangled to death and an autopsy later revealed that she had been raped before being murdered. The rape and murder case, the 12th such incident in the region, led to massive protests. The protests were mainly centred on the allegation that the police was lax in investigating such crimes. Cops, however, have sought to reject the criticism. "We have got CCTV footage that shows a young man taking her along. We will catch him very soon," a police officer was quoted as saying by Reuters.

ZAINAB LAID TO REST On Wednesday, Zainab was laid to rest even as massive and violent protests and riots rocked Kasur. The city's streets were filled "stench of burning tyres", an Express Tribune report said. A dramatic but unverified video on social media showed policemen firing directly at the protesters even as an unidentified person - believed to be a police officer - shouted at the personnel to fire in the air instead. A Video viral today purports to show Punjab Police opening straight fire on protesters demanding justice for Zainab, at least 2 killed — Khalid khi  January 10, 2018. The Zainab case also prompted the powerful Pakistan military to issue a statement. "COAS [Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, condemns cold blooded murder of innocent Zainab. Responding to appeal by the aggrieved parents to COAS, directs immediate all out support to civil administration to arrest the criminals and bringing them to exemplary justice," the military's spokesperson Major General Asif Gafoor said in a tweet. Meanwhile, tweets expressing outrage over Zainab's rape and murder poured in from all over the country with #JusticeForZainab becoming the hashtag of choice on the micro-blogging platform.

Zainab should have been tucked in bed, cozy and safe. Yet she was abducted, raped, murdered and left alone in a heap of garbage . How can anyone ever make sense of this inhumane act. Endless prayers for this little angel. #JusticeForZainab Maheen Taseer january 10, 2018 Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi was among those who commented on Twitter. "Shocked, Disgusted and feeling sick to the core! What a shameful day for us, Zainab's killers must not only be hanged, they should be given such exemplary punishment that people should remember the lessson for ever. Pakistan rulers we're waiting for action!" Afridi said. Cricket-turned-politician Imran Khan too spoke on the rape and murder. "The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society. This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected," he said. The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society. This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected.  Imran Khan January 10, 2018 As the girl was finally laid to rest on Wednesday, the rapist(s) and murder(s) were yet to be traced with police expressing confidence they would soon solve the case.