The Supreme Court of Pakistan is scheduled to hear the review appeal of Zahir Jaffer next week. Jaffer was convicted for the brutal murder and beheading of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, a case that deeply impacted the nation and intensified discussions on violence against women. The hearing will take place on April 8 before a three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, alongside Justice Salahuddin and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
Noor Mukadam, daughter of a former diplomat, was discovered dead in Islamabad in July 2021. Investigations revealed she endured severe torture before her killing, which triggered widespread outrage over gender-based violence and concerns about unequal legal treatment. Jaffer received a death sentence from the trial court, which was upheld by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC also converted his 25-year sentence for rape charges into a second death penalty.
In a significant development on May 20, 2025, the Supreme Court confirmed Jaffer’s death sentence. Justice Kakar delivered a concise judgment affirming the trial court’s rulings on the rape charges, while commuting Jaffer’s 25-year imprisonment to life imprisonment. The court also upheld the compensation order for Noor’s family. Meanwhile, the sentences of Jaffer’s gardener and watchman, Jan Mohammad and Iftikhar, were reduced, with the court noting they had served adequate prison terms.
Noor was found dead at a private residence in Sector F-7/4, Islamabad. Jaffer was apprehended at the crime scene, and an FIR was registered by Noor’s father the same day, describing a gruesome murder involving beheading with a sharp weapon. The trial lasted over four months, culminating in February 2022 with Jaffer sentenced to death, 25 years of hard labour, and a Rs200,000 fine. Two domestic staff members, Iftikhar and Jameel, were sentenced to 10 years each, while other accused, including Jaffer’s parents and several TherapyWorks employees, were acquitted.
In March 2023, the IHC upheld Jaffer’s death sentence and upgraded his 25-year term to an additional death penalty following appeals. Subsequently, a challenge to the IHC verdict was filed in the Supreme Court in April last year. The Supreme Court reaffirmed Jaffer’s death sentence in May 2025, underscoring the gravity of the case and its implications for justice in gender-based violence.
