The anti-terrorism court (ATC) has reserved the verdict in rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab and will announce it on 17 February.

ATC Judge Sajjad Ahmed conducted the high-profile trial inside Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, where Imran Ali, is jailed on remand.

Around 56 witnesses including Zainab’s uncle, brother, police officials, neighbours and doctors who conducted DNA tests recorded their statements against Imran. The prosecutor told the court that the forensic report and polygraph test proved that Imran murdered Zainab.  

On Wednesday, the lawyer who was representing the suspected rapist and murderer of Kasur’s seven-year-old Zainab distanced himself from the case. The ATC also held a nine-hour long hearing wherein it recorded the statement of the primary suspect and statements of witnesses.