Zubair Qureshi
Two policemen carried Zahir Jaffer, the primary accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, on a chair on Monday to the courtroom from the “bakshi khana” —during the hearing in a trial court where his lawyer stated that his mental condition was deteriorating.
A junior lawyer Usman Riaz Gul was representing Zahir in Monday’s proceedings as the accused’s counsel, Advocate Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem, did not appear before the court bwcause of Covid-19. However, he later joined the hearing through a video link.
An application seeking the formation of a medical board to determine the state of Zahir’s mental health has already been dismissed by the court, which observed in its written order on the matter that the plea had been raised “just to get rid of criminal liability”.
Zahir’s counsel, Advocate Saleem, joined the hearing later through a video link, after the court pointed out to the junior lawyer Gul over the advocate’s absence.
At the last hearing, Advocate Saleem’s medical reports were presented to the court and it was informed that the lawyer had contracted Covid-19.
On Monday, Gul requested the court to defer the hearing due to Advocate Saleem’s absence, who he said was sick and could not appear appear before the court.
Gul then said, “We don’t want delay in the trial,” and requested that the senior lawyer be allowed to join the hearing via a video link.
The court then adjourned the hearing till January 20. Earlier in the hearing, the investigating officer’s statement was recorded who recounted the events of the case’s investigation in detail.
