The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer for the 2021 gruesome murder of Noor Mukadam dismissing his appeal.

Noor, aged 27 years, was found murdered at Zahir’s Islamabad residence in July 2021, with the investigation revealing that she was tortured before being beheaded.

The trial court sentenced Zahir to death, a verdict later upheld by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which also converted his jail term for rape charges into a second death penalty.

A three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar and comprising Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi heard the case. Barrister Salman Safdar appeared as Zahir’s counsel, while Advocate Shah Khawar represented Noor’s father, retired diplomat Shaukat Muqaddam. Safdar concluded his arguments on Tuesday, with Khawar beginning his.

Zahir’s counsel argued that all evidence must be “beyond doubt” and contended that the court could not consider anything beyond the CCTV footage presented. He also noted that the prosecution’s footage played at the Islamabad High Court had technical issues and could not be properly viewed.

The co-accused — Mohammad Iftikhar (watchman) and Jan Mohammad (gardener), each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for preventing the victim from fleeing — were also represented in court. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi remarked that the situation could have been different if the victim had not been stopped, while Justice Hashim Kakar commented on the limits of their responsibility given their salaries.

The hearing took a broader social turn when members of the bench raised concerns about growing societal issues linked to the case. Public Prosecutor Shah Khawar, representing the state, requested to make a brief statement — prompting sharp observations from the justices.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim stated that the state must educate the youth about the dangers of "live-in relationships" and how such arrangements can lead to tragic consequences, citing the circumstances of Noor's murder.

Justice Hashim Kakar emphasized the increasing abuse of the drug "ice" (methamphetamine) among university students.

“Don’t you know how easily ice is available in universities?” he asked. “Can all this happen without the knowledge of the area SHO?”

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi echoed similar sentiments, urging authorities to raise awareness about drug addiction and its consequences, especially in elite educational institutions.

“Raid Quaid-e-Azam University and see how much ice is seized,” remarked Justice Kakar, criticizing the complacency of law enforcement.

The bench stressed the state's responsibility to initiate preventive measures instead of merely reacting to incidents.

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing for later in the afternoon and indicated a decision on Zahir’s appeal would be announced soon. Appeals of the co-accused and a related appeal by Noor’s father against the acquittal of Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer, remain pending.

Case background

Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered on July 20, 2021, at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4. The same day, an FIR was registered against Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested at the crime scene. Investigations revealed that Noor was tortured and beheaded.

In February 2022, a district and sessions judge sentenced Zahir to death for murder and 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape. His household staff, Mohammad Iftikhar and Jan Mohammad, were sentenced to 10 years each for complicity. Zahir’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamji, were initially indicted over allegations of evidence concealment but later acquitted.

In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld Zahir’s death sentence and converted his 25-year imprisonment for rape into a second death penalty. It also upheld the sentences of the co-accused. Zahir’s appeal to the Supreme Court challenged the evidence’s interpretation and sought to highlight procedural flaws in the FIR.

Noor’s father, Shaukat Muqaddam, had persistently urged the Supreme Court to expedite justice in this high-profile case. The brutal murder had drawn widespread condemnation across Pakistan, spotlighting issues of violence against women and the pursuit of justice.