In a major development in the high-profile Noor Mukadam murder case, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the death sentence for Zahir Jaffer, the main accused convicted of brutally murdering Noor in July 2021. The verdict was announced by a three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar.
The apex court dismissed Zahir’s appeal against the murder conviction, maintaining that the evidence presented, including CCTV footage and forensic reports, left no room for doubt. However, in a partial relief, the court commuted Zahir’s death sentence on rape charges to life imprisonment, citing legal grounds. He was also acquitted of kidnapping charges.
In a significant move, the Supreme Court ordered the release of co-accused Iftikhar (watchman) and Jan (gardener), stating that the time they have already spent in jail is sufficient punishment for their level of involvement. “They have served time equal to their culpability,” Justice Kakar remarked.
During the hearing, Justice Hashim Kakar commented on the nature of Noor and Zahir’s relationship, terming it a “live-in relationship” — a concept more common in Western societies but not socially or religiously accepted in Pakistan. “Such relationships are a misfortune for our society,” he said, adding that they go against cultural and moral values.
Zahir Jaffer’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, questioned the credibility of the CCTV evidence, claiming the entire prosecution case rested on it. However, the bench countered that the footage was verified by the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory and was neither tampered with nor altered.
“Had a person recorded the video, we could argue selective editing,” said Justice Kakar. “But this is CCTV footage — there’s no human interference.”
The court also dismissed arguments regarding Zahir’s intent to abduct Noor, pointing out that she willingly came to the house. Justice Kakar stated, “Even without the CCTV footage, Noor’s body being found in Zahir’s house is enough to prove his involvement.”
Meanwhile, the defense lawyers for the security guard and gardener argued that their clients were only present at the crime scene and did not actively participate. However, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi noted that had they not stopped Noor from leaving, the outcome might have been different.
Justice Najafi emphasized the need to educate young people about the dangers of live-in relationships and drug abuse, calling for awareness campaigns in universities. “Go conduct a raid at Quaid-e-Azam University — drugs are openly being sold,” Justice Kakar said, expressing concern over rising drug culture among youth.
In a rare admission, Justice Kakar acknowledged the emotional weight of the case, telling Zahir’s lawyer, “This was a very difficult case — perhaps the first time I’ve upheld a death sentence.”
The court concluded by stating that detailed reasoning behind the verdict would be issued later.
