The Noor Mukadam case has taken another turn, as Zahir Jaffer seeks a psychiatric review ahead of a clemency plea. Here’s what we know.
Nearly four years after the horrific murder of Noor Mukadam, the man convicted for the crime — Zahir Jaffer — is now preparing to file for presidential clemency, his final shot at escaping the death penalty. But before the petition can reach the President’s desk, Adiala Jail authorities have moved to get Jaffer evaluated for his mental state — a move that’s already stirring public concern.
According to official letters circulating in the media, the superintendent of Adiala Jail has formally requested PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) to set up a medical board that can assess Jaffer’s physical and psychological condition. The request, signed by the jail’s superintendent, a medical officer, and a psychiatrist, specifically calls for the inclusion of psychiatrists and neurologists, and comes after questions were reportedly raised about Jaffer’s mental health.
This development isn’t just routine paperwork — it’s the legal prerequisite for his upcoming mercy petition under Article 45 of the Constitution, which allows the president to pardon or reduce sentences in certain cases. Since the Supreme Court already upheld his death sentence in May 2025, this appeal is now Jaffer’s last legal resort.
PIMS has confirmed it will be forming the requested medical board, comprising Dr. Shafqat Nawaz (psychiatry) and Dr. Amir Naveed (neurology), who are expected to examine Jaffer at Adiala Jail.
Zahir Jaffer was convicted for the gruesome 2021 murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, who was held captive, tortured, and ultimately beheaded at Jaffer’s Islamabad residence. The brutality of the crime, backed by CCTV footage and forensic evidence, triggered nationwide protests and calls for accountability — especially in cases involving powerful, well-connected individuals.
In addition to the death sentence under Section 302B (premeditated murder), he was also sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape under Section 376, along with a financial penalty.
For many, the timing and basis of the medical evaluation now raise serious red flags. Critics argue that the sudden focus on mental health seems less about justice and more about creating a loophole to soften or overturn the punishment. Mental instability had already been used as a defense during trial — and rejected.
Noor’s family, especially her father, has consistently pushed for a fair and timely conclusion to the case, which has dragged on through appeals and delays. Now, with the presidential mercy petition in motion, public attention has once again returned to a case that became a flashpoint in Pakistan’s reckoning with gender-based violence and systemic privilege.
Whether this new chapter will result in mercy or justice remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: the country is watching closely.
Sources: Samaa, Dawn, Aaj News
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