Riots erupted in Pakistan's Punjab province on Wednesday over police inaction after the body of an 8-year-old girl was found dumped in the trash after being raped multiple times, police said.
Two people were killed and an equal number injured as enraged protesters stormed the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kasur with sticks and stones.
The brutal murder of Zainab has incited anger among residents as it is the 12th such case to occur within a two kilometre radius in the city in the last year.
Zainab was last known to have attended a tuition centre near her house in the Road Kot area last Thursday on January 4, after which she was allegedly abducted.
Her family received footage showing her with a stranger near Peerowala Road, a video which has since gone viral on social media.
On Tuesday, a police constable deputed to trace the girl recovered her body from a trash heap.
Police said the girl seemed to have been killed four or five days ago.
#JusticeforZainab
Nobel Peace prize winner and activist for girls right to education, Malala Yousafzai demanded that the government take action.
"Heartbroken to hear about Zainab - a 7 year old child abused and brutally killed in Kasur, Pakistan. This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action. #JusticeForZainab," Malala tweeted.
Social media has erupted with anger over the brutal rape case. From politicians to cricketers, from common people to celebrities all have rallied behind the cry to find the culprits in Kasur rape case and bring them to justice.
Pak cricketer Mohammad Amir tweeted, "I am heart broken, gutted and disgusted what sort of society we r living in (sad smileys) heart goes out to the parents... #JusticeForZainab."
Claimed Pakistani actress, known for her role in Shah Rukh Khan's film Raees, called on the government of Pakistan to find the culprits as soon as possible. "Find him!!! Do what it takes to find him and make an example out of him for Gods sake !! An example which scares anyone to even think about doing something like this again. @pid_gov @GovtOfPunjab #JusticeForZainab," she said on microblogging site."
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the prompt arrest of the suspects and said he would personally supervise the progress of the case.
"Just presided over a meeting of police and administration officials. Made it absolutely clear to them that lip service would not work. I want the culprits involved in this heinous crime behind the bars. Those failing in their duties will be proceeded against. Very painful incident!"
Kasur made international headlines in 2015 when a gang of paedophiles running a child sex ring was busted, Dawn reported.
The gang allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at least 280 children in the area, had blackmailed the families of the victims since 2009, and even sold video clips and images of the assault.
(With inputs from IANS)
