ISLAMABAD: Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect in the cold-blooded murder of Noor Mukaddam, has filed an appeal against his death sentence in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Jaffer claims that the trial and high court failed to identify fundamental flaws in the First Information Report (FIR) and that their verdicts were based on an “erroneous appreciation of evidence.”
On July 20, 2021, Noor Mukaddam, daughter of an ex-diplomat, was brutally murdered after being physically and sexually assaulted by Zahir Jaffer, the son of wealthy parents, in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4.
Jaffer was arrested the following day, and the case against him and his parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, three domestic helpers, Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad, and Jameel, and six Therapy Works employees, including Tahir Zahoor, Amjad, Dilip Kumar, Abdul Haq, Wamiq, and Samar Abbas, commenced.
Zahir Jaffer confesses to murdering Noor
A few days after his arrest, Zahir confessed to murdering Noor. During the investigation, it was revealed that Zahir informed his father on July 20 about what he had done to the victim, and in response, Zahir’s father contacted Therapy Works, seeking their help in getting his son out of the house.
Later, Zahir’s counsel also attempted to prove him mentally ill, but the plea was dismissed by the court.
On January 15, 2022, Shaukat Mukaddam, Noor’s father, testified in court and demanded capital punishment for Zahir. After a lengthy trial, on February 24, 2022, the court in the Capital sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death.
The court found Jaffer guilty of rape and sentenced him to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 200,000.
The court also sentenced Iftikhar and Jan Muhammad to ten years in prison for abetting the crime. On March 13, 2023, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected a plea challenging the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer and upheld his conviction.
In the verdict, the two-member bench dismissed the appeals of co-accused Iftikhar and Mohammad, who had also appealed against the verdict.
Zahir Jaffer has now filed an appeal against the IHC order through Salman Safdar, his advocate. He argues that he and his family have been subjected to a media trial and constant pressure “that was visibly present during the investigation stage” and continued throughout his trial.
The case has attracted widespread attention, with many calling for justice for Noor Mukaddam and demanding accountability for those responsible for her murder. The appeal filed by Zahir Jaffer will now be reviewed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
