ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19.
A three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Kakar, with Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, heard the high-profile case.
Zahir Jaffer’s defence counsel Salman Safdar and state prosecutor Shah Khawar appeared before the court. Safdar requested a delay, citing the need to file more documents.
Justice Kakar expressed dissatisfaction with the repeated delays. “Why should we grant an adjournment when you are present in court?” he asked sharply.
He criticised the culture of unnecessary postponements in Pakistan’s judicial system. “In our court, cases are only delayed if a judge or a lawyer dies,” he said.
Justice Kakar added that such delays could ruin lives. “If someone spends 20 years on death row and is then freed, what should he think of the system?” he questioned.
He held lawyers accountable for stalling cases. “It’s not the system’s fault. It’s ours for entertaining adjournments,” he remarked. “A man acquitted after decades might as well throw the court file in our face.”
Justice Najafi intervened, urging both parties to avoid premature responses. He told Shah Khawar to respond after the defence formally submits the application.
The court then adjourned the hearing until May 19, instructing both legal teams to come fully prepared.
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Background of the Case
Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old woman, was brutally murdered in Islamabad’s F-7/4 sector on July 20, 2021.
Police arrested the main accused, Zahir Jaffer, at the crime scene. Noor’s father, Shaukat Mukadam — a former Pakistani diplomat — filed an FIR the same day.
The FIR stated Noor had been “beheaded after being killed with a sharp weapon,” sending shockwaves across the country.
In February 2022, a sessions court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death. He also received a 25-year prison term with hard labour and a fine of Rs200,000.
Two household staffers, Iftikhar and Jameel, were sentenced to 10 years each. Other co-accused, including Jaffer’s parents and TherapyWorks employees, were acquitted.
In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld Jaffer’s death sentence. It also converted his 25-year sentence into another death penalty.
Zahir Jaffer later challenged the IHC verdict in the Supreme Court in April 2023.
Shaukat Mukadam has repeatedly urged the top court to fast-track the case. On Noor’s birth anniversary, he held a press conference calling for justice and timely decisions.
Public Reaction and Expectations
The Noor Mukadam case has become a symbol of justice for victims of gender-based violence in Pakistan.
The public continues to demand swift resolution. Legal experts say further delays could damage public trust in the judicial process.
With the next hearing scheduled for May 19, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court. Will justice be served without more delays? The nation waits.
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