ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday awarded death sentence to Zahir Jaffer for the murder of, 27 years old, Ms Noor Mukadam.

Ms Noor Mukadam was found murdered at Zahir Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad on July 20, 2021. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered the same day against Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested from the site of the murder under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of the victim’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, who is a retired diplomat.

The court also awarded him 25 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs200,000 after finding him guilty of rape under Section 376. The court awarded 10 years imprisonment each to Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan, who were the household staff of Zahir Jaffer.

The court, however, acquitted the parents of Zahir Jaffer, father Zakir Jaffer and mother Asmat Adamjee. The court also acquitted the Therapy workers. When the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Islamabad Ata Rabbani announced its verdict reserved earlier on Tuesday, after months long hearings, all the accused were present in the court.

According to court’s short order, Zahir Jaffer was awarded death sentence under Section 302(b) (premeditated murder) of the PPC. The death sentence, however, is subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court. The court ordered Zahir Jaffer to pay Rs0.5 million to the legal heirs of Noor Mukadam.

“In case of non-payment, the amount would be realized as arrears of land revenue and in case of non-realisation, he would have to undergo six months simple imprisonment,” the court order read. Zahir Jaffer has been sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 for kidnapping in order to murder (Section 364) and one-year rigorous imprisonment for wrongful confinement (Section 342).

The court held that the imprisonment sentences would run concurrently with the benefit of Section 382(B) (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the Criminal Procedure Code granted to the convict.

Accused Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan were each sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 for abetting (Section 109); 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 for confining a kidnapped person (Section 368); one month of simple imprisonment for omitting information from a public servant (Section 176) and seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 for concealing a plan to commit an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment (Section 118).

The sentences of both the accused will also run concurrently, however, they would be granted the benefit of Section 382(B) of the CPC. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has welcomed the award of death sentence to the prime accused in Noor Mukadam murder case.

In a tweet on Thursday, he said the verdict of Noor Mukadam murder case was given within four months and police and the prosecution have timely fulfilled their responsibilities in this case. He said the people of Pakistan expect such dispense of justice in the country. He expressed hope that all institutions associated with judiciary will meet these expectations and the rule of law will be ensured.