Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Zahir Jaffer in Noor Mukadam Murder Case

In a landmark verdict that has sent shockwaves through the nation, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer, convicted for the gruesome 2021 murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam. The apex court dismissed his appeal and reaffirmed the rulings of the trial court and the Islamabad High Court.

The murder, which took place in Islamabad’s Sector F-7/4, drew national outrage due to its horrifying nature — Noor was tortured and then beheaded. The court also upheld Zahir’s second death sentence, awarded for rape charges.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Hashim Kakar and including Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi, heard the appeal. During the proceedings, justices expressed deep concern over the social issues highlighted by the case — from drug abuse to societal breakdown.

Justice Kakar criticized the easy availability of methamphetamine (“ice”) in universities and questioned police negligence. Justice Ibrahim also emphasized the need to educate the youth on the dangers of live-in relationships, which they said can lead to such tragic consequences.

The court further noted the importance of preventative state measures rather than reactive responses. While Zahir’s appeal was rejected, appeals related to his co-accused and a petition by Noor’s father against the acquittal of Zahir’s parents remain pending.

Noor’s father, former diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, had continuously called for swift justice, saying that his daughter’s brutal murder must not go unpunished. The verdict is seen by many as a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s legal stance on gender-based violence.