ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed the appeal of Zahir Jaffer, upholding his death sentence in the brutal 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam, bringing a major legal chapter of the high-profile case to a close.
Noor, 27, was tortured and beheaded at Zahir’s residence in Islamabad in July 2021. The trial court sentenced Zahir to death, a verdict that was later upheld by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which also converted his sentence for rape charges into an additional death penalty.
Supreme Court Bench and Legal Representation
The three-member SC bench was headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, and included Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi.
- Barrister Salman Safdar represented Zahir Jaffer.
- Advocate Shah Khawar appeared on behalf of Noor’s father, retired diplomat Shaukat Mukadam.
Key Arguments and Observations
During the hearing:
- Zahir’s lawyer argued that evidence must be “beyond a reasonable doubt” and questioned the admissibility of a USB containing surveillance footage, claiming it was not played during IHC proceedings.
- Justice Najafi remarked that if the co-accused had not blocked Noor’s escape, “the outcome could have been different.”
- The watchman Mohammad Iftikhar and gardener Jan Mohammad, both sentenced to 10 years, were also discussed. Their lawyer claimed they had committed no crime other than being present at the residence.
Justice Kakar responded critically, questioning, “What was the need to do more than what they were paid for?”
Co-accused and Pending Appeals
- The court also heard appeals filed by co-accused parties, including Shaukat Mukadam’s appeal against the acquittal of Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer.
- A detailed order regarding these appeals is still awaited.
Justice for Noor
Earlier in the proceedings, Zahir’s counsel had claimed that no medical board was constituted to assess his client’s mental health. However, Justice Kakar dismissed the argument with a stark reminder: “A daughter was mercilessly murdered.”
Noor’s father had previously urged the Supreme Court to expedite the case, which had remained pending for over 18 months.
The Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the decisions of the lower courts and marks a significant legal precedent in one of Pakistan’s most closely watched murder trials in recent years.
