State Bank of Pakistan confirms Zainab Murder Case suspect has no bank accounts

LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan confirmed on Friday that no commercial bank accounts under the name of the accused in Zainab murder case Kasur, exist. The central bank had launched a probe into reports of multiple bank accounts allegedly held by the suspect Imran. According to sources privy to the development, the State Bank in its investigative report said it did not find any commercial bank accounts under the suspect’s name.

The Punjab government is expected to hold a press conference regarding the matter later today.

The State Bank earlier confirmed it had received a request from the joint investigation team (JIT) regarding reports by a private media house suggesting that the accused, Imran Ali Naqshbandi, held several bank accounts, including foreign accounts.The central bank had begun collecting details from banks concerning the allegations, and had assured the JIT of its full cooperation in the case.Meanwhile, according to sources, the JIT has also completed its probe into the alleged bank accounts of the suspect but found no bank account under his name and CNIC data.Bank officials, when approached by Geo News earlier following reports of the accused’s bank accounts, denied their existence. They said that the suspect does not have an account in any of their bank branches.

SC reschedules hearing to Sunday

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday rescheduled the hearing of the case and will now hold the hearing on Sunday in Lahore’s SC registry. The hearing was earlier scheduled for Monday. The cause list has also been issued. Punjab’s advocate general, IG Jail and DG forensics Punjab have been issued notices for appearing before the court. In addition, the SC also summoned the anchor who claimed that the accused had foreign currency bank accounts.The anchor summoned earlier by the JIT, did not appear before the probe body formed by the Punjab government to share proof of his claims, said a tweet by the provincial government. The tweet added that the anchor person’s contact numbers are also switched off.

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday took notice of reports by a media outlet suggesting that the accused held several bank accounts, and directed the JIT to probe into the matter.The Punjab government, on the chief minister’s directives, notified of addition of a representative of the State Bank and DG Forensic Science Laboratory to the already existing JIT in the case, headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG).

Earlier this week, a special anti-terrorism court handed Imran to police on a 14-day physical remand. During proceedings, the accused admitted to the rape and murder of Zainab, who was kidnapped near her aunt’s house in Kasur on January 4. Her body was discovered in a garbage heap five days later.