Anchorperson asked to appear before SC

recorder report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood and chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in the Zainab murder case and fixed the case for hearing on March 7.

Federal Investigation Agency found no evidence for any of the allegations levelled by Dr Shahid Masood regarding rape and murder of 8-year-old Zainab.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on January 29, 2018 had constituted a three-member inquiry committee, headed by Director General Federal Investigation Agency Bashir Memon, and comprising Anwar Ali, Joint Director Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Asmatullah Junejo, Assistant Inspector General (Operation Division) of Islamabad Police, to investigate the allegations levelled by an anchorperson of a private channel.

Dr Shahid Masood in his television show telecast on January 24, 2018 and his media talk on 25.01.2018 outside the apex court alleged that rapist and murderer of minor girl, Zainab, has bank accounts within and outside Pakistan.

It was directed that the committee, after recording the statement of Dr Shahid Masood, shall submit its report within a period of 30 days. The committee shall check the veracity of the allegations and give a clear finding whether those allegations are correct or otherwise.

The inquiry report, submitted in the apex court, said: “Virtually every single claim made by Dr Shahid Masood, has been shown to be without any sound basis. There was no conspiracy to declare Imran Ali, murderer of little Zainab, as mentally ill or mad and there was never any threat to his life from any influential person.”

On the contrary, extraordinary detailed measures were taken to ensure that Imran Ali is not caused any harm and that his fate is decided by no other than the court through judicial process.

The report said that the authorities found no evidence that Imran Ali is declared mentally incompetent. Imran acted alone and there is no part of any mafia involved in the rape and murder of Zainab.

The report said that no evidence was produced about Imran’s bank accounts nationally and internationally. No proof was brought on record that Imran Ali was pressurized by any federal minister. Neither anything was provided regarding violent child/crime pornography in Kasur nor was any evidence produced that any gang is involved in violent child/crime pornography in Pakistan.

There was also no evidence that Imran Ali took minor girl’s pictures before committing rape and murder, the report said.