The murder of Zainab Ansari, who was kidnapped on her way to school and whose body was left in a rubbish dump, triggered public outcry in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s senate has been asked to pass a bill to bring back public hanging for people who rape or kidnap children under the age of 14.
Suspect Imran Ali was remanded in custody for 14 days by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Wednesday.
Police spokesman Muhammad Sajid said: “His DNA has matched all eight cases and he has confessed.”
When the police announced they had the suspect in custody, Zainab’s father demanded the culprit be hanged.
CCTV footage of the day the young girl was abducted showed Zainab walking off calmly with a man.
Two people were killed in Kasur the day after Zainab’s body was recovered after police opened fire at hundreds of angry protesters.
Across Pakistan, thousands protested, condemning police inaction and blaming the government for failing to protect children.
The case has seen child abuse be discussed widely in Pakistan and the brutal killing of Zainab has sparked a number of prominent Pakistani women coming forward with their own stories of sexual assault.
The proposed bill says: “Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person under the age of fourteen in order that such person may be murdered or subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the lust of any person or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered or subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the lust of any person shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall not be less than seven years.”
The bill could add the words “by hanging publicly” at the end after the word punishment rather than with death or imprisonment for life.