KASUR: After a meeting with local stakeholders and senior policemen, the Punjab police chief constituted on Sunday 20 teams comprising police officials and public representatives at union council and ward levels to conduct a house-to-house search to reach the ‘serial killer’ involved in the rape and murder of Zainab.

Earlier, 10 police teams were conducting the search without involving the local community.

IGP Muhammad Arif Nawaz held the meeting at the Police Lines here with local parliamentarians, lawyers, traders, members of the peace committee, UC councilors and JIT to seek suggestions to trace out the culprit and to maintain law and order in the town.

The reconstituted teams, along with area councillors, launched a door to door search operation in Road Kot and adjoining localities.

‘DNA test of one member from each searched family may help police reach the suspect’

According to MPA Naeem Safdar Ansari, who also attended the meeting, it was concluded to narrow down gap between civil society and law enforcing agencies.

Police also decided to conduct DNA test of a member of each family during the search operation. “If the result matches with that of the accused, it will help police unmask the culprit,” a senior police official said.

The JIT has managed a mobile DNA laboratory in Kasur for speedy results.

A member of the JIT told Dawn there were similarities in Zainab and seven earlier killings of minors.

He said the culprit, in all the eight cases, threw the body of each victim near the house. The time for throwing the body in all the cases appeared to be between 5 pm to 8 pm. He would throw the bodies on heaps of trash near some under-construction houses within two or three days of abduction. Belongings of each victim -- shoes, cap, dress etc -- were intact.

He said the investigators were trying their best to reach the culprit. Tracing history, he said it took US police over three years to unmask a serial killer of children.

In a statement, IGP Arif Nawaz Khan said that investigation process was going on speedily and inquiry teams were busy in assessing all aspects of the case day and night. He further said that Punjab police considered the case a challenge and all available means were being employed.

JIT head Muhammad Idrees told the IG that the case would be finalized soon as CCTV footage and images of the suspect were being matched with all persons of this area through DNA tests.

The IGP further said that investigation of cases of death of citizens during protests should be done on merit and challans should be submitted to trial court.

The IGP also met with citizens of Kasur and plaintiffs of other cases who expressed trust in the investigation process. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif remained in touch with the IGP through video link.

The JIT has reportedly issued sketch of the suspect in the Zainab murder case.

The Director General of Ministry for Human Rights Muhammad Hassan Mangi said it was need of the hour to prioritize human beings and our collective focus should be on elimination of social evils. “Laws are there but there is a need to implement them in letter and spirit. Zainab’s murder might have been avoided had we shown seriousness in earlier cases,” he added (Imran Gabol contributed to this report from Lahore)

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2018