The Supreme Court of Pakistan is finally set to hear the appeal of Zahir Jaffer, who was given the death sentence for the brutal murder of Noor Mukadam.
This long-awaited hearing will take place on May 13, 2025, as mentioned in the court’s official cause list. People across the country have been waiting for the case to move forward, as it has become a symbol of the fight for justice for women in Pakistan.
Noor Mukadam was just 27 years old when she was murdered on July 20, 2021. Her body was found in a house in Sector F-7/4, a posh area of Islamabad. She had been brutally killed and beheaded, according to the police report filed by her father, Shaukat Mukadam, a former ambassador. Zahir Jaffer, a wealthy man from a powerful family, was arrested from the scene of the crime and has remained the main accused ever since.
In February 2022, a local court in Islamabad sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death. He was also given 25 years of hard prison time and fined Rs200,000. Two of his domestic staff members, Iftikhar and Jameel, were also found guilty for helping him and were given 10 years in jail each. However, Jaffer’s parents and several others, including employees of TherapyWorks (a counseling center that Jaffer had connections with), were found not guilty and were let go.
The case did not end there. In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) not only confirmed the death sentence for Zahir Jaffer but also increased his punishment. His earlier 25-year prison sentence was changed into another death sentence. So, instead of one, he was now facing two death sentences for the same crime. Jaffer then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April 2023, challenging the IHC’s decision. However, the case remained pending for more than one and a half years.
Noor’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, had been constantly requesting the Supreme Court to take up the case. On Noor’s birth anniversary last year, he held a press conference and asked for speedy justice, saying that delays were only adding to the family’s pain. His appeal against the acquittal of Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer, will also be heard on the same day by the Supreme Court.
Latest Update
Now, after a long wait, the Supreme Court has officially included the case in its hearing list. A three-member bench will hear the case on May 13, 2025. The bench will be headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, with Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi as the other two judges. This hearing will not only look into Jaffer’s appeal but also into the appeals of other convicted people in the case.
This update has brought new hope to many who were beginning to feel that justice was being delayed. The case has been closely followed by the public, especially women’s rights activists, who see Noor’s case as more than just a single incident. It has become a symbol of the fight against violence, privilege, and misuse of power in Pakistan.
Now, with the hearing scheduled, the country waits once again — hoping that the top court of the land will bring justice to Noor Mukadam and her family. As the day of the hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court, with people praying that justice will not only be done but also be seen to be done.
We will keep you informed as the case develops.
Sources: Dawn, The Express Tribune, and The Truth International.
