Protests erupted across the country following the brutal incident. Photo: File 

LAHORE: The defence and prosecution in the Zainab rape and murder case will present their concluding arguments before Anti-Terrorism Court-I (ATC) Judge Sajjad Ahmad today. 

The ATC is conducting the high-profile trial inside the Kot Lakhpat Jail, where the primary suspect, Imran Ali, is jailed on remand.

So far, a total of 33 witnesses have recorded their statements, including Zainab's paternal uncle and five-year-old brother, her neighbours, doctors, police officials who transported the DNA samples and investigation officers.

On Wednesday, the ATC held a nine-hour long hearing wherein it recorded the statement of the primary suspect and statements of witnesses. 

Defence counsel of Zainab's alleged killer withdraws from representation

ATC expected to complete recording witnesses' statements today, record suspect Imran's statement tomorrow

Moreover, on Wednesday, the suspect's private counsel informed the judge that after the suspect's confession, his conscience cannot permit him to represent a hardened criminal. Imran had confessed to the crime on the first day of the trial after his indictment.

The counsel, Mehar Shakeel Multani, had made similar comments before the media on Tuesday. Following the defence counsel's official withdrawal, the Punjab prosecutor general assigned Imran a government lawyer, Mohammad Sultan.

Seven-year-old Zainab was kidnapped from near her aunt?s house in Kasur on January 4 and found dead in a garbage heap five days later. On January 23, the authorities claimed to have nabbed the suspect, a serial killer involved in other such crimes, through a DNA match.

On Monday, ATC Judge had indicted Imran and recorded the statements of 20 witnesses. The Lahore High Court has directed the ATC to wrap up the trial within seven days of the suspect?s indictment.

Court indicts prime suspect in Zainab murder case

Anti-terrorism court indicts suspect Imran, directed to wrap up trial within seven days

Imran was arrested on January 23. His DNA also matched samples taken from seven other minor girls who were abused and murdered earlier in Kasur, according to the police.

After the police arrested Imran, the suspect reportedly confessed to assaulting eight minor girls at an under-construction site and two others in a garbage heap in Kasur.