Latest news with #ShahKhawar
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Arab News
Pakistan top court upholds death penalty for Zahir Jaffer, convicted in grisly murder of Noor Mukadam
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday upheld the death penalty of Zahir Zakir Jaffer, a Pakistani-American, who was convicted of murdering 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, daughter of a former diplomat, a lawyer of Mukadam's father said. Jaffer, son of a wealthy industrialist, was sentenced to death in 2022 for the brutal killing of Mukadam, whose beheaded body was found in July 2021 at a residence in Islamabad's upscale F-7/4 sector. Last year, the Islamabad High Court upheld Jaffer's death sentence, originally handed down by a sessions court. Subsequently, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April 2023, seeking to overturn the punishment. On Tuesday, Justice Hashim Kakar upheld the death penalty in the case that sparked nationwide outrage and became one of Pakistan's most widely followed trials involving violence against women. 'We are quite satisfied with the Supreme Court's decision as his death sentence in the murder case remained intact. It is a sense of relief for Noor's parents, relatives, and civil society,' Shah Khawar, who represented Mukadam's father, told Arab News. 'It was a very important case, as it involved the brutal murder of a young girl who was killed in an extremely violent manner. The family of the accused was financially very strong, so people believed they would be able to influence the court— but that was proven wrong today.' Khawar said the trial court had given the accused a death sentence for murder, 25-year imprisonment for rape, and 10-year imprisonment for abduction. 'When we appealed the decision in the High Court, his 25-year imprisonment for the rape case was also converted to a death sentence. The High Court also upheld his death sentence for murder,' he said. 'In today's decision, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for murder, commuted the death sentence for rape to 25 years of imprisonment, and acquitted him in the abduction case. Two of his servants, who had each been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, were released with the order that the time they had already served would count as their sentence.' 'Justice for Noor,' an advocacy page on Instagram run by Mukadam's friends, hailed Tuesday's verdict and said it was a 'powerful reminder' that women's lives matter. 'This is not just for Noor. This is for every woman in Pakistan,' it said. Khawar, who represented Mukadam's father Shaukat Mukadam, said the convict now has 'very limited' legal options left. 'One is to file a review petition, which will be heard by the same bench, offering very limited scope for any relief,' he said. 'The final step would be to file a mercy appeal before the President of Pakistan under Article 45. If they choose to pursue this option, the sentence will remain suspended until the mercy petition is decided.'
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's top court adjourns Zahir Jaffer's appeal in Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of an appeal filed by Zahir Zakir Jaffer, a Pakistani-American convicted of murdering the daughter of a former diplomat, until May 19, according to local media reports. Jaffer was sentenced to death in 2022 for the brutal killing of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, whose beheaded body was found in July 2021 at a residence in Islamabad's upscale F-7/4 sector. The case sparked nationwide outrage and became one of Pakistan's most widely followed trials involving violence against women. Last year, the Islamabad High Court upheld Jaffer's death sentence, originally handed down by a sessions court. Subsequently, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April 2023, seeking to overturn the punishment. 'The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer's appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until 19 May, following consensus from both parties,' Geo News reported. Earlier in the day, a three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Kakar heard the case, alongside Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi. Both defense lawyer Salman Safdar and prosecution counsel Shah Khawar appeared before the court. The defense requested more time to file additional documentation. Justice Kakar reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the delay, while Justice Najafi advised the prosecution to formally respond only after the defense had submitted the application. The appeal hearing was preceded by a social media post from Justice for Noor, an advocacy page on Instagram run by Mukadam's friends. The post maintained that the defense had attempted to delay court hearings in the past, though it also expressed faith in the country's judicial system. 'Stand with us,' it urged its followers. 'Stand for justice.' The court adjourned the hearing until May 19, instructing both sides to come fully prepared.
