ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has dismissed the review petition filed against the death sentence of the main convict, Zahir Jafar, in the Noor Muqaddam murder case and upheld the sentence.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar heard the case. Justice Salahuddin and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim were also present on the bench. At the beginning of the hearing, Zahir Jafar’s lawyer requested to adjourn the hearing of the case until Monday, which the court rejected.
The court remarked that the decision to uphold the sentence was taken after reviewing all the evidence and legal aspects of the case. Following this Supreme Court decision, the death sentence awarded by the trial court and the Islamabad High Court will remain in effect. In February 2022, a local court in Islamabad had sentenced Zahir Jafar to death, 25 years in prison for rape, and 10 years in prison for illegal detention for the murder of Noor Muqaddam.
According to legal experts, Zahir Jafar now has the option of filing a review petition in the Supreme Court and sending a mercy appeal to the President of Pakistan. In July 2021, 27-year-old Noor Muqaddam was murdered in Sector F-7/4 of Islamabad. The incident sparked a strong public reaction across the country.
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