Daily Times

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) awarded death penalty to main accused Imran Ali in Kasur rape and murder case on Saturday.

Imran was sentenced to death on four counts on charges of kidnapping, rape and murder and life imprisonment for committing unnatural act with the minor. He was also fined Rs1 million by the ATC, announced Prosecutor General Ehtasham Qadir.

Earlier this week, the defence and prosecution concluded their arguments, while the court reserved its judgement in a case hearing held at Kot Lakhpat Jail in the provincial capital, where the accused, Imran Ali, is imprisoned.

As many as 56 witnesses, including family members of the victim, recorded statements before the court during a case hearing conducted on Monday.

The verdict will be announced by ATC judge Sajjad Ahmad in jail premises. Amin Ansari, the 7-year-old victim’s father, has arrived at jail for the verdict.

On January 9, dead body of a 7-year-old minor was found in a garbage dump days after the girl had been abducted.

Later, forensic tests revealed that the victim had been sexually assaulted before being strangled to death.

On January 27, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the arrest of Imran Ali in a press conference alongside the 7-year-old’s father. He also confirmed that the accused had confessed to his crime.