Zainab, a seven-year-old girl, was laid to rest amid sobs and tears as hundreds of devastated family and friends turned up to attend her funeral prayer in Kasur. Large numbers of local residents attended her second funeral. The first was led by PAT leader Dr Tahir ul Qadri earlier in the day. CM presides over...

Large numbers of local residents attended her second funeral. The first was led by PAT leader Dr Tahir ul Qadri earlier in the day.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting and reprimanded the police officials with regard to incident of murder of a girl in Kasur.

He termed the incident as most tragic and made it clear that criminals must be arrested and no dereliction would be tolerated.

He made it clear that action will also be initiated against the police officers concerned for showing negligence and added that such tragic incidents could not be tolerated at any cost.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home), IG Police, RPO Sheikhupura and concerned officials attended the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set up a joint investigation team to conduct a probe into the brutal assault and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Kasur.

The chief minister also ordered District Police Officer (DPO) Zulfiqar Ahmed to be made an OSD over the death of two protesters outside his office in police shooting.

"Heartbroken to hear about Zainab - a 7 year old child abused and brutally killed in Kasur, Pakistan. This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action," Malala tweeted.

Heartbroken to hear about Zainab - a 7 year old child abused and brutally killed in Kasur, Pakistan. This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action. #JusticeForZainab — Malala (@Malala) January 10, 2018

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar has taken notice of the brutal assault and murder of seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur district of Punjab.

The chief justice has directed Punjab police chief to submit a report within the next 24 hours.

A charged crowd surrounded DSP City and SHO Patoki and subjected them to physical assault over killing of two demonstrators in straight police fire.

The crowd had gathered outside the DPO office to protest the murder of Zainab when police resorted to fire. Two people died on the sport as a result of police fire.

17: 30: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has condemned the cold blooded murder of innocent Zainab.

Responding to appeal by the aggrieved parents, the army chief has directed immediate and all out support to civil administration to arrest the criminals and bringing them to exemplary justice.

COAS 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. — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) January 10, 2018

17:20: Jamaat-e-Islami head Siraj ul Haq submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly, condemning the rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab.

Police have written a letter to authorities seeking deployment of paramilitary Rangers force in the city to restore calm.

Father of the deceased girl lamented that there had been no support from police when his daughter went missing.

"Our neighbors helped us find my daughter, but there had been little help from the police," he told SAMAA.

To a question, he said that he himself used to pick and drop his daughter in school.

"It is unfortunate that two more people have embraced martyrdom due to police fire on protesters," he said. The girl's mother, on the other hand, appealed to the government to ensure justice was done.

"We will not bury our daughter unless culprits are caught and justice is served," she said.

At least two people lost their lives when riot police opened straight fire on the protesters on Wednesday.

The police firing triggered stampede in the area that turned into a flashpoint after protesters clash with the police personnel.

The citizens are protesting outside the DCO Office against the incident involving the rape and murder of little seven-year old girl.

One of the two victims was identified as 60-year-old Muhammad Ali. The deceased was father of six children.

Relatives of the deceased told SAMAA they had evidence to prove that police had opened straight fire on protesters. "We have videos of the shooting. Policemen can be seen laughing and smiling after the firing," a relative told media.

Talking to Samaa, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kasur revealed one to two suspects may be involved in several cases of sexual molestation against the minor girls in the city.

Making startling revelation, the RPO stated that the DNA and the modus operandi in all five cases of child sexual abuse are the same; hence, “There is a possibility that one or two persons may be involved in the crime.”

He further stated that 12 rape cases were reported in 2017 in Kasur. However, the suspects involved in the rape of seven-year old Zainab, a resident of Rod Kot area of Kasur, will soon be apprehended.

He stated that the family members of Zainab have provided the CCTV footage of the incident to the law enforcement agencies. He added that Zainab’s parents were in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

DPO Kasur said that Zainab is the eighth of children who were murdered after being raped.

Police said the little girl was abducted while she was on her way to a tuition center on January 5; later, her body was found dumped on a garbage pile near Kashmir Chowk four days after the kidnapping.

The postmortem report confirmed that the minor was raped multiple times and strangled to death.

When the incident took place, the ill-fated girl’s parents were in Saudi Arabia to to perform Umrah.

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. pic.twitter.com/9f7OM3hYT1 — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 10, 2018

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken serious note of the incident and ordered inquiry.

Dr Tahir ul Qadri leads funeral prayers

Dr. Qadri left for Kasur soon after the protests erupted in the city as demonstrators made preparations for the funeral prayers.

In the violent protests, two demonstrators lost their lives after the riot police opened straight fire on them.

The father of the ill-fated girl could not attend the prayer as he is in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

After the funeral prayer, he prayed to God for the eternal peace of the Zainab and patience for the bereaved family.

Police said the little girl was abducted while she was on her way to a tuition center on January 5; later, her body was found dumped on a garbage pile near Kashmir Chowk four days after the kidnapping.

The postmortem report confirmed that the minor was raped multiple times and strangled to death.