Islamabad:
On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued its detailed judgment in the Noor Mukadam killing case and maintained the death sentence of convicted Zahir Jaffar while commuting his separate death sentence for rape to life prison.
In the 13 -page verdict, the Court described Jaffer as “a ruthless killer” who does not deserve sympathy, and confirmed the correctness and unanimity in the decisions of the lower court.
The judgment also emphasized the evidence value of video recordings in which it stated that material obtained through a reliable system can serve as self-confidence-sufficient testimony. It cited a back robbery case, where video visions were accepted without eyewitnesses and noted that US courts widely apply the principle of ‘silent witness’.
In Jaffer’s case, the Court noted that CCTV recordings, DVR and hard drive all were presumed forms of evidence. The court stated that there was no indication of manipulation in the video recordings, the identification of the defendant was accurate and the DNA report confirmed rape.
Murder weapons also turned out to have the victim’s blood on it. “The criminal failed to give any explanation to Noor’s presence. Digital evidence is now considered primarily testimony. If CCTV recordings meet the set standards, no further verification is needed,” the judgment states.
The Court also maintained Jaffer’s death sentence for murder, but converted his sentence for rape to life prison. He was acquitted of the abduction tax while his sentence for illegally limiting noor was maintained.
The Supreme Court also gave up that penalties for co-accused Muhammad iftikhar and Muhammad Jan would stand. In a show of easing, however, it ordered their release on the grounds that they had already earned sufficient time.
Previously, a three-member bench had led by Justice Hashim Kakar and consisting of Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi dismissed Jaffer’s appeal. The verdict concluded with a note that justice Najafi would add a supplementary note to the verdict.
Noor, 27, was murdered on July 20, 2021 in a house in Islamabad’s F-7/4-sector. A FIR was admitted the same day, which led to the arrest of Jaffer on the crime scene. In February 2022, the District and Sessions Court Zahir handed the death penalty and 25-year-old prison for murder and rape. Two domestic staff, Mohammad Iftikhar and Jan Mohammad were each awarded 10-year prison period for their commitment.
Zahir’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamji – both prominent business figures – were indicted in October 2021, but later acquitted. Similarly, six employees in the therapy works arriving at the scene of police were also cleared of charges of the trial.
