A special anti-terrorism court has awarded four counts of death penalty, one life imprisonment to culprit Imran Ali in Zainab murder case.   

Special court judge Sajjad Ahmad gave its judgment in the high profile case in Lahore on Saturday.

Convicted Imran Ali will also have to pay 3.2 million rupees fine.

The trial in the case was concluded on Thursday when the judge reserved the verdict after cross-examination of all the prosecution witnesses.

A total of 56 witnesses including Zainab’s uncle and brother recorded their statements against Imran. The prosecutor informed the court that the forensic report and polygraph test proved that Imran murdered Zainab.

The trial court concluded the proceedings in four days.

It conducted trial on a fast-track basis to meet the deadline set by the Supreme Court and the Lahore High Court.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar had taken suo moto notice of  the incident on 10th of the last month.

Zainab's rape and murder had sparked outrage across the country after the six-year-old Zainab who went missing on January 4, was found dead in Kasur on 9th of last month.

The Punjab government arrested the serial killer on 23rd of the last month.

Imran Ali's DNA also matched samples taken from seven other minor girls who were abused and murdered earlier in Kasur.

Talking to newsmen after the verdict, Persecutor General Punjab Ehtasham Qadir said  Zainab case has proved that scientifically based DNA report can be used to get a sentence against any culprit.

He said fair trial was held in the case for which hearings were completed in just four days.

The Prosecutor General said Imran Ali can file an appeal against the verdict in fifteen days.

Meanwhile, Zainab's father Muhammad Ameen, in a media talk expressed satisfaction over the judgment.