Zainab Ansari killing: Parents of murdered eight-year-old criticise Kasur police as Pakistan protests turn violent

Girl's father Ameen Ansari claims police 'didn't do anything' to find his daughter as four officers are arrested for allegedly firing at protesters

The parents of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Pakistan have claimed police “didn’t do anything” to find their daughter.

Zainab Ansari’s death sparked widespread protests across the country after her body was found in a rubbish tip on Tuesday in Kasur, eastern Punjab.

Her father, Ameen Ansari, who was on a pilgrimage with his wife to Mecca when his daughter disappeared, said family and friends searched frantically for Zainab after she was reported missing, but police expended little effort.

“My relatives and neighbours told me that the police used to come, have food and leave,” he told local media. “While they didn’t do anything, my friends and family spent day and night looking for my daughter.”

Speaking from Islamabad airport, Zainab’s mother, who has not been named, said: “I don’t know anything. I don’t know what happened. I just want justice. I have lost Zainab. I don’t have anything to say.”

The province’s chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, who assured Mr Ansari justice would be done for Zainab, fired Kasur’s police chief over negligence in the case, according to a Punjab government statement.

Hundreds of angered residents took to the streets of Kasur in protest on Wednesday.

Some attacked a police station and government buildings while local TV cameras captured others throwing stones and smashing car windows with sticks.

Police were seen firing gunshots into the air to disperse protesters.

Two people died and dozens more were injured.

Kasur’s police chief, Zulfiqar Hameed, declined to say whether those killed had been shot by his officers.

Four police officers have since been arrested for allegedly opening fire on the protesters, the Government said in a tweet.

Zainab went missing as she walked to her nearby religious studies class, according to police.

They said six girls have been sexually assaulted in the region in recent months, and are investigating whether there is a connection between the cases.