ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19, after both the defence and prosecution agreed to the delay.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Hashim Kakar and comprising Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi, presided over the proceedings in the high-profile case.
Defence lawyer Salman Safdar requested an adjournment to allow time for submission of additional documents. However, Justice Kakar voiced frustration over the request, asking, “Why should we grant an adjournment when you’re already present in court?”
Criticising the frequent delays in Pakistan’s judicial process, Justice Kakar remarked, “In our court, cases are only delayed when the judge or the lawyer dies.” He warned of the devastating implications of wrongful convictions, adding, “What do we say to a man who spent 20 years on death row and was later found innocent?”
“The real flaw lies in our willingness to entertain unnecessary adjournments — not in the judicial system itself,” the judge added. “A man wrongfully convicted might as well throw the file in our face if released after years.”
Despite the defence’s plea, the court insisted that a decision on the adjournment would only be made after the required documents were submitted. Justice Najafi advised prosecutor Shah Khawar to respond formally once the application had been received.
The hearing was then adjourned to May 19, with both sides directed to return fully prepared.
Background of the Case
Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered on July 20, 2021, at a private residence in Islamabad’s F-7/4 sector. Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect, was arrested at the scene, and an FIR was registered the same day by Noor’s father.
The FIR stated that Noor had been brutally murdered and beheaded with a sharp weapon, in a crime that sent shockwaves across the country.
In February 2022, a district and sessions court sentenced Jaffer to death, along with a 25-year prison term and a fine of Rs200,000. The court also sentenced two of Jaffer’s household staff — Iftikhar and Jameel — to 10 years in prison each. Other co-accused, including Jaffer’s parents and several employees of TherapyWorks, were acquitted.
In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld Jaffer’s death sentence and added a second death sentence by upgrading his 25-year imprisonment.
Jaffer later filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, challenging the IHC verdict. That appeal is now scheduled for hearing on May 19.
