Zahir Jaffer, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Noor Mukadam, has now approached President Asif Ali Zardari seeking a presidential pardon, bringing the long running case into a new and potentially final stage.
Jaffer’s mercy plea follows the dismissal of his review petition by the Supreme Court that upheld his death sentence. At this point, since there is no other route left through which his case can be reviewed through judicial process, his mercy plea makes the case fall into the hands of the President, who under Article 45 of the Constitution has powers to grant pardon, reprieve or respite.
Noor Mukadam’s Family Appeals To President
After this, Noor Mukadam’s family has approached President Asif Ali Zardari requesting him to not accept Jaffer’s mercy plea and turn down his plea for pardon.
The family has further asked the people to stay alert and support Noor Mukadam and her family during this phase of the case. The family’s reaction has highlighted the fact that even though Jaffer’s conviction of murder has been upheld in all the courts so far, still the option of clemency exists because of the President’s power under the constitution.
In that regard, the mercy petition for Noor’s family is more than just a legal event. It is a petition that may change the penalty determined by the judiciary system of the nation.
Supreme Court Had Already Upheld Death Sentence
This recent development is in the wake of the Supreme Court rejection of Jaffer’s petition for review after challenging the court’s previous judgment that upheld the death penalty on him for murdering Noor. This has left presidential clemency as the only other course open to Jaffer.
In its previous judgment, the Supreme Court considered several claims made by Jaffer’s defense team, with respect to issues regarding the use of digital evidence in the case and whether Jaffer was mentally capable of committing murder. In this ruling, the court upheld Jaffer’s conviction and death penalty for murder. However, his rape charge was earlier commuted to life imprisonment, and he was acquitted from the kidnapping charge.
A New Stage In A Case That Has Remained In The Public Eye
The presidential mercy petition now places the next decision in the hands of the presidency rather than the courts. Article 45 gives the President broad constitutional powers concerning sentences imposed by courts, meaning the petition can potentially seek a reduction, suspension, commutation or pardon.
For Noor Mukadam’s family, however, the appeal remains firmly focused on rejecting clemency. Their call for the President to decline Jaffer’s request has also revived public discussion around a case that became one of Pakistan’s most closely followed murder trials and sparked widespread demands for accountability.
As Jaffer seeks presidential mercy, Noor’s family is asking that the death sentence upheld by the courts remain unchanged. The question now is whether the President will accept or reject the plea, with the decision carrying significance not only for Noor’s family but for the wider public that has followed the case since its beginning.
This is a developing story.