Naimat Khan
KARACHI/LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan has informed the interrogators that no commercial bank account in the name of Imran Ali, accused in Zainab murder and accused case, has been found.
According to spokesman, Muhammad Asad Akbar, Deputy Director, State Bank of Pakistan has informed DIG Muhammad Idrees Ahmed, Convener Joint Investigation team, in the abduction, rape and murder of minor girl Zainab that after no account was formed.
DIG Asad Akbar, through letter no-234/KSR dated January 25, 2018, had requested the central bank for information regarding the investigation into the high profile abduction, rape and murder case of Zainab of Kasur.
“We would like to inform that the matter of searching the bank accounts (local/foreign currency of accused Imran Ali S/O Arshad bearing CNIC 35102-7459834-7 has been taken up with all commercial banks. However, all the commercial banks have informed that they have searched their databases and found no account of the accused against the said CNIC,” the state bank’s letter reads.
Earlier, Punjab government Spokesperson Malik Ahmed Khan said that the SBP had sent the letter confirming that Imran Ali had no bank accounts in any commercial banks in Pakistan.
“This officially confirms that Dr Shahid Masood invented a baseless story which we have failed to comprehend the cause behind, without thinking of its cost,” he said, adding that the story about the suspect’s bank accounts had threatened to ruin investigations.
According to Punjab Government spokesman Shahid Masood was asked to appear before the JIT but he failed to appear.
A notification requiring the Punjab additional advocate general, police officials, Dr Shahid Masood and others to appear in the court’s Lahore registry was issued today. The hearing had earlier been set for Monday.
Earlier on Friday, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal too had said that the SC and media had been caught up in a “make-believe” story on the Kasur case propagated by the anchor and aimed at defaming the government.
Interior minister said that the latest example of how social media is a tool for fifth generation warfare came about following the arrest of Zainab’s murderer when the Punjab government was being praised.
Ahsan said; “This proves how big of a tool of chaos and disruption social media is.” The minister warned that numerous such ‘attacks’ on the government “could be expected as it was election year.”
“Make-believe, fictitious and false news stories will be spread by foreign agencies via social media,” he added.
The Government of Punjab also said that the anchor did not appear before the JIT to share information about his claims.
Earlier this week, a special anti-terrorism court handed Imran to police on a 14-day physical remand. During proceedings, the accused admitted to the rape and murder of Zainab, who was kidnapped near her aunt’s house in Kasur on January 4. Her body was discovered in a garbage heap five days later.
