F.P. Report
LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Sunday gave 72 hours to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) director general for reaching at some definite conclusion in the Zainab murder case.
The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the orders while hearing the suo motu notice against Zainab’s murder here at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.
As the proceedings started, Joint Invesitgation Team (JIT) head RPO Muhammad Idrees, the PFSA DG and other police officials appeared before the bench in response to the court orders of January 16.
The JIT head apprised the court of progress in the investigations conducted so far and answered various queries of the bench.
He submitted that since 2015, eight minor girls, including Zainab, had been assaulted and killed, in limits of two police stations of kasur, and as per DNA reports, only one accused was involved in all the cases.
He said that although the JIT was tasked to probe the Zainab case yet it was also examining the previous incidents and DNA tests of 800 suspects had been conducted so far.
At this, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, a member of the bench, asked the JIT head to adopt other means for investigation, besides DNA test.
To which, the JIT head submitted that investigations were being carried out from all angles and hoped that the accused would be arrested.
The bench was also informed about treatment facilities being provided to another victim Kainat at the Children Hospital. It was further informed that a medical board would review the latest reports of the victim on Wednesday.
At this, the chief justice directed the doctor concerned to apprise the bench about the board’s decision.
Zainab’s uncle, who was present in the court, expressed satisfaction on the JIT’s investigation in response to a bench query. However, he insisted to investigate DSP Arif Rasheed as five previous incidents had taken place during his tenure.
Later, on the JIT’s request, the bench held in-camera proceedings in chamber, wherein certain aspects of matter were explained. DG PFSA Muhammad Ashraf Tahir also apprised about the exercise being done in the case. However, he sought time to reach at some definite conclusion in the case.
At this, the bench directed the DG for doing the needful in 72 hours preferably while adjourning the further hearing.
