ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday upheld the death sentence given to Zahir Jaffer in Noor Mukadam’s murder case and dismissed his appeal.
The top court announced the verdict after hearing arguments of both sides.
Justice Hashim Kakar observed about the nature of the relationship between the victim and the convict, Zahir Jaffer. He remarked that Noor and Zahir were in a “live-in relationship,” a concept prevalent in European societies but alien and unacceptable in Pakistan.
“A boy and girl living together is a misfortune for our society,” Justice Kakar observed, adding that such relationships contradict both religious teachings and moral values.
The court was hearing appeals in the high-profile case that shocked the nation.
Representing the convicted killer, Zahir Jaffer, senior lawyer Salman Safdar argued that the prosecution’s entire case rested on CCTV footage and DVR data. He contended that the evidence against his client must be beyond reasonable doubt and that the court should not consider anything beyond the footage presented as evidence.
Safdar also noted that the prosecution had attempted to play the CCTV footage in the Islamabad High Court but it could not be viewed properly.
In response, Justice Hashim Kakar pointed out that the defense had already accepted the authenticity of the CCTV footage. He said the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory had confirmed that the video was neither tampered with nor edited.
“If a human had recorded the footage, there could have been an argument that only selective parts were shown. But in this case, the video was recorded via CCTV — there was no human interference,” he noted.
Following Safdar’s arguments, lawyers for two co-accused — the watchman and gardener of Zahir’s residence — began their defense. They argued that both were sentenced to ten years in prison simply for preventing the victim from leaving the house. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi remarked that if the staff had allowed Noor to leave, the outcome could have been different. The defense argued that their only “crime” was being present at the scene.
Justice Kakar asked why the staff exceeded their duties beyond what they were paid for. After their arguments concluded, Noor Mukadam’s counsel, Shah Khawar, began presenting his side.
Justice Kakar remarked that many facts in the case are undisputed and need no further argument.
“It is an admitted fact that the convict and the victim lived together,” he said, again stressing that such a relationship is unacceptable in Pakistani society.
He also questioned whether Noor’s arrival at Zahir’s residence on her own reduces the severity of the kidnapping charge.
“Even without CCTV footage, the recovery of Noor Mukadam’s body from the convict’s house is enough,” Justice Kakar said.
Justice Najafi inquired whether Noor Mukadam’s mobile phone was recovered during the investigation. Shah Khawar replied that while the call records are available, the phone itself was never taken into custody.
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