The eight-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in Pakistan is thought to have been the victim of a serial killer.
Zainab Ansari was caught on CCTV being led away by a mystery man and was later found raped and strangled next to a bin about a mile from her home.
She is the sixth child to have been abducted, raped and murdered in the city of Kasur in the past year, and local police believe that the killings may have one perpetrator.
Murdered: Zainab is the sixth murder victim in a year to be kidnapped, raped, strangled and dumped in the city of Kasur in just one year and police believe them to be linked to one man
Five previous victims have been linked to one suspect and police believe Zainab may be number six, but further investigation is needed, BBC Radio4’s Today Show reported on Thursday.
BBC reported that the other victims had also been dumped next to bins.
Zainab was kidnapped on her way to a Koran recital while her parents where in Mecca performing a religious pilgrimage.
Speaking at Islamabad airport as he arrived back in the country, her father Ameen Ansari said, as his wife sobbed: ‘We will not bury Zainab until the killer is caught.
‘He alleged that the police did not cooperate in finding his daughter ‘If the police would have acted immediately, the culprit would have been caught.’
Her mother added: ‘I have nothing to say, I just want justice for my daughter.’
Protest: People hold placards reading in Urdu ‘Protest against the murder and rape of innocent girl Zainab in Kasur’ during a protest against the rape and murder
Anger: People burn tyres during Wednesday’s protests which saw government buildings under attack and at least two people killed
Chief Minister of the province of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, hugs Zainab’s father Ameen Ansari
The murder has caused outrage in Pakistan, and mass protests broke out in Kasur, located in Punjab province on Wednesday.
A local police station and government building were attacked during mass riots that left at least two dead and several injured.
The violence erupted in the city of Kasur hours before the funeral of Zainab and shopkeepers in the city closed their premises in support.
Much of the anger was directed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Inspector General of Police who they claimed had failed to act on dozens of cases of children being raped and murdered in the Kasur district of the province.
Police are hunting this man, who was filmed on CCTV leading the youngster away
A large number of women joined in similar protest in Punjab and elsewhere in Pakistan, it was reported.
Pakistanis expressed their shock on social media using the hashtag ‘justiceforZainab’.
Among those voicing anger was the cricket star and politician Imran Khan who tweeted: ‘The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society.
‘This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected.’
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai wrote that she was ‘heartbroken to hear about Zainab’, adding: ‘This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action.’
Ihtisham ul Haq, summed up many people’s exasperation at a lack of progress in finding the killer.
‘The picture of Zainab’s rapist & killer is clearly captured. Why he is still roaming freely? Can our agencies and authorities capture him?’, he tweeted.
Former cricket star Imran Khan was among those who expressed their shock at the killing
Many have wondered why it is taking the police so long to arrest the suspect
‘Can we please catch this animal and punish him publicly? Can we do something to protect our children?’
Firebrand cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri who took part in the girl’s funeral service demanded the local government be replaced, saying it has ‘no right to remain in power after the killing of Zainab Ansari’.
In a speech to thousands of mourners, he blamed the Punjab chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, for failing to ‘protect lives and honour of innocent girls’ in the province.
He issued an ultimatum to Mr Sharif and Mr Sanaullah to step down by January 17 to avoid street protests.
The cleric is a staunch political rival of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party and he has led violent rallies in the capital, Islamabad, since 2014 after eight of his supporters were killed in anti-government rallies in Lahore, Punjab’s provincial capital.