The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has strongly criticised the recent remarks made by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi regarding the Noor Mukadam murder case. The commission said the comments were misogynistic, irresponsible, and reflective of a harmful mindset that shifts blame from perpetrators to women. The statement was issued on Friday after the judge’s comments sparked widespread backlash nationwide.
NCSW Calls Remarks Victim-Blaming and Harmful
Justice Najafi, a member of the three-judge Supreme Court bench that upheld the death sentence of Noor’s murderer, Zahir Jaffer, attributed the horrific 2021 killing to what he described as a “vice” spreading in upper society. In his additional note, which surfaced earlier this week, he linked the case to “living relationships”, seemingly referring to live-in arrangements between unmarried couples.
The judge claimed that such relationships violate state law and Islamic Sharia, framing them as a “revolt against Islam”. His observations immediately drew criticism from activists, lawyers, and the public. Many said the remarks unfairly moralised a brutal crime and shifted focus away from the convicted murderer.
The NCSW condemned the remarks as clear victim-blaming. The commission stressed that no woman’s choices, real or assumed, can justify or explain violence, murder, or any form of gender-based abuse. It further stated that such comments harm public trust in the judicial system and contradict the judiciary’s constitutional responsibility.
Commission Urges Judiciary to Maintain Impartiality and Respect
The NCSW highlighted that Justice Najafi’s comments also contradict a previous judgment by Justice Ayesha Malik. In that ruling, Justice Malik emphasised that judges must use language that is respectful, sensitive, and free from personal bias when addressing victims of violence. Her judgment urged the judiciary to avoid moralising narratives or stereotypes that shame women.
The commission stressed that the latest remarks disregard these principles and risk undermining confidence in the justice system. It called on all judges to uphold constitutional values, ensure impartiality, and maintain courts as safe spaces where survivors are treated with dignity and respect. Justice, NCSW stated, must always be grounded in evidence and law rather than personal beliefs or bias.
The NCSW, established in 2000 as an autonomous statutory body, plays a key role in reviewing policies and laws related to women’s rights and gender equality. Its mandate includes recommending legal reforms that promote and protect the rights of women across Pakistan.
The judge’s remarks also came just a day after the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, intensifying public criticism. During a Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights meeting, lawmakers labelled the comments “ridiculous” and questioned how such views could affect conviction rates in cases involving women.
