Zahir Jaffer awarded death sentence in Noor murder case

Zahir Jaffer, prime accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, was sentenced to death while his parents, Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee, were acquitted by a sessions courts in Islamabad on Thursday.

Other accused in the case, including Therapy Works employees, were also acquitted by the court, presided by Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani.

However, co-accused Jan Mohammed and Iftikhar, employed by Zahir, were sentenced to 10 years in jail as they were found guilty of facilitating the murder of Noor by not informing the police and helping Zahir.

In its order, the trial court said Zahir can appeal against the verdict in the Islamabad High Court within seven days. “He is directed to pay Rs500,000 as compensation to the legal heir of the deceased as required under section 544-A CrPC,” said the court in its order.

According to the judge, the death sentence awarded to the convict shall be subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). “Reference under Section 374 of CrPC be immediately submitted” to the high court for confirmation of the awarded sentence.

The trial court also found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to 25-year in jail under Section 376(1) of the Pakistan Penal Code along with a fine of Rs200,000. “The sentences of imprisonment shall run concurrently and the accused is granted benefit of Section 382(B) of CrPC,” the order added.

Victory for justice

Shaukat Mukadam, the father of the slain woman, said the trial court’s ruling was a victory for justice.

He said the entire nation was praying for justice in the case and thanked the media for keeping the case alive. Mukadam, a retired diplomat, said Zahir Jaffer was given an “exemplary punishment” by the judge.