Pakistan

Zahir Jaffer's judicial remand extended till Sept 6

Accused in Noor murder case was presented before court following expiration of previous 14-day remand

Our Correspondent August 30, 2021

Zahir Jaffer being taken into police custody. PHOTO: Screengrab

ISLAMABAD:

A district and sessions court of Islamabad extended on Monday judicial remand of Zahir Jaffer, the main suspect behind the brutal murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukaddam, till September 6.

Earlier, Jaffer was produced in the Islamabad katcheri, before judicial magistrate Muhammd Imran.

The police, following the proceeding, took the main suspect in the murder case back to the Adiala Jail.

Jaffer was produced before the court following the completion of his 14-day remand in the case.

On August 16, a local court extended Jaffer's and his staff's judicial remand till August 30. The court also approved the police’s application of DNA tests of the co-accused, Iftikhar and Jamil.

Deputy Judicial Magistrate Saqib Jawad conducted three separate hearings of the Noor Mukadam murder case.

Read IHC hears father's plea challenging bail to accused in Noor case

During the first hearing, the prime suspect was brought to the court from Adiala Jail on completion of his judicial remand where his attendance was marked from a 'Bakshi Khana'. The suspect was not presented in court and was taken back to jail.

In the second hearing, the court heard the police’s application for allowing DNA tests of co-suspects Iftikhar and Jamil. They were also brought from Adiala Jail and not presented before the court.

The court carried out the hearing on the application and allowed the police to conduct DNA tests of both suspects.

Moreover, the six staffers of Therapy Works were produced in the court after the completion of their one-day physical remand. The suspects, including owner Dr Tahir Zahoor Ahmed, were granted one-day physical remand.

The police said that the staffers hid the evidence in collusion with the prime suspect’s father. However, they were later granted on bail.

The murder and beheading of Noor Mukadam sparked nationwide outrage with thousands of people calling on the authorities to take the case to its logical end.