Appeal of Imran Ali, convict in Zainab murder case rejected by high court

The appeal of the convict Imran Ali in Zainab rape and murder case challenging the death sentence has been rejected by the Lahore High Court on Tuesday

The division bench of the high court upheld the verdict of the trial court. Imran Ali, 24, was awarded four counts of the death penalty by the trial court last month for kidnapping, raping and killing the minor Zainab in Kasur, a city located in the country's thickly populated province of Punjab. 

During the hearing in the high court, the lawyer for the convict argued that Imran was not the real culprit and the trial court had given its verdict in haste. 

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan observed that objections should not be raised when courts delivered justice timely. The convict Imran was talking about the relief of the death penalty and you are requesting your client's acquittal, he added.

The court in its verdict stated that the DNA test of 1,187 people was carried out and Imran was the only person whose DNA matched. It was proved in the process of investigation that Imran Ali was the real culprit, the verdict added.

Following the verdict by the Lahore High Court, the convict has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan within 15 days of time.