Zahir Jaffer files review petition in Noor Mukadam murder case

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Zahir Jaffer, the prime convict in the high-profile Noor Mukadam murder case, has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking reconsideration of the death sentence awarded to him.

The petition was filed through senior lawyer Khawaja Haris and raises multiple objections regarding the conduct and findings of the trial.

In the petition, Jaffer’s legal team argues that the court failed to determine the mental state of the accused at the time of the incident.

A request to form a medical board to assess his mental health was submitted to the Supreme Court, but the court did not give a decision on the matter, the petition states.

Read also: Noor Mukadam murder case: Supreme Court upholds death sentence of convict Zahir Jaffar

The plea also questions the use of video recordings as a basis for the conviction, arguing that the prosecution relied on unverified footage that was neither shown during trial proceedings nor provided to the accused. According to the petition, these videos were not formally proven as evidence in court.

The defense maintains that these procedural shortcomings, along with the lack of a proper mental health evaluation, are strong grounds for the court to revisit its decision. The petition urges the Supreme Court to exercise its authority and review the verdict.

Background

Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old woman and daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was brutally murdered in Islamabad in July 2021.

The case gained national and international attention due to the horrific nature of the crime and sparked widespread outrage across Pakistan.

Zahir Jaffer, a US national and member of an influential family, was arrested at the crime scene and later found guilty of Noor’s murder.

In February 2022, he was sentenced to death by a trial court, and the verdict was upheld by the Islamabad High Court and later by the Supreme Court.

Jaffer’s latest petition represents an attempt to overturn or reduce his sentence by challenging key aspects of the trial and evidence handling.