The sentence was read today in Lahore prison. The 24-year-old Imrat Ali received four death sentences, a life sentence and a sixth indictment of seven years imprisonment. Activist: "In this case justice was fast. But in others, it takes up to 15 years ".
Lahore (AsiaNews) - A anti-terrorism tribunal in Pakistan has sentenced to four death sentences Imran Ali, the young 24-year-old who raped, tortured, killed the little Zainab, just 7 years old, throwing her in a landfill in Kasur (near Lahore).
The child’s brutal murder sparked great outrage in the country, with the population violently protesting police inaction, and the condemnation of numerous activists who speak of a widespread "culture of rape" that remains unpunished.
Naseem George, director of the Aezaz-e-Niswan Development Organization in support of women's rights, told AsiaNews: "The verdict does not satisfy me. Hanging is not the solution. Since January 2017, 44 criminals have been hanged, but this has not stopped evil acts such as rape, "honor killings" and religious extremism ".
The sentence was read today at the central prison in Lahore, in the district of Kot Lakhpat. The killer will have 15 days to file an appeal. He was convicted of six crimes. The four counts for which Ali had the death sentence are kidnapping, rape, murder and terrorism; for the accusation of sodomy he received a life sentence, plus a fine of one million rupees [about 7,300 euros, ed]; finally a six-year sentence of imprisonment, plus another one-million-rupee fine, for throwing Zainab's lifeless body into a landfill.
The activist complains that "what happened to the child is a great disaster. The serial killer has confessed to attacking eight other minors, whose sufferings were unheard. What was the government doing before this episode? Was it asleep? Our institutions must be more dynamic, responsible and honest ". Then he underlines: "In this case we have witnessed a lightning process. But usually people have to plead their case in court for 15 years ".
Naseem George, a former Dominican sister, presided over the Justice and Peace Commission of the Association of Superiors of Religious Orders of Pakistan. She chose to work in favor of women after seeing the suffering of girls in slums [slums, ed.]. "The parents - she concludes - start to fear for the safety of their daughters around the age of 12-13 years. Neither the government nor the Church pay attention to how to teach children self-respect or personal protection. There are no training centers for mothers. We live in a sick society, where no importance is given to psychological problems ".