Bail pleas of Zahir Jaffer’s parents dismissed

ICH says parents aided their son in Noor murder

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday dismissed the bail pleas of the parents of Zahir Jaffer, the main suspect in the Noor Muqqadam murder case.

The high court also directed the trial court to wind up the trial of the murder case in two months.

IHC judge Justice Amir Farooq announced the verdict, a week after it was reserved following the completion of arguments by lawyers from both sides.

The IHC issued the detailed verdict stating that Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee had aided and abetted their son in the murder of Noor Muqqadam.

According to the court verdict, the parents knew that Zahir Jaffer had taken Noor hostage, but did not inform the police. The family’s watchman clarified he had alerted Zakir Jaffar about the situation, the court’s decision said, adding that Zakir Jaffer then got in contact with the owner of Therapy Works.

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The court said in its verdict that no attempt was made to inform the police even after the parents informed the Therapy Works chief executive officer.

As per the IHC verdict, Zahir Jaffar maintains in his statement that he had informed his father prior to the murder, whether his statement is acceptable or not, it is for the trial court to decide.

The court said that evidence of direct help in aiding and abetting a crime cannot, as a rule, apply everywhere. Aiding and abetting can also be indirect, the court noted, adding that in such a situation, factual evidence is sufficient.

The detailed order also referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling that aiding and abetting a murder was as serious a crime as committing it.

In an earlier hearing, the IHC had reserved its decision on the bail plea of accused Zahir’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee.

Plaintiff’s counsel, Shah Khawar, had earlier told the IHC that the prime suspect had constantly been in contact with his parents during the incident, proving their abetment with the crime.

“It was an extremely brutal murder, so they should not be granted bail,” he had maintained.

Read more Zahir Jaffer ‘confesses’ to killing Noor Muqaddam

The counsel had said that a citizen, Zubair, had informed the police about the murder at 8:45pm. “At that time, the Therapy Works staff was at the scene while the injured personal servant had gone for his treatment.”

He had further stated that Zakir Jaffer told the Therapy Works’ staff to reach the house at 7:07pm. “According to police, as per the CCTV footage, they reached the house at 8:06pm and entered the residence via the window at 8:45pm.”

Last week, the sessions court set October 6 as the date for indicting the prime accused and 11 others in the Noor Muqqadam murder case.

Additional sessions judge Islamabad Ata Rabbani heard the case wherein six accused, including the prime suspect, were produced before the court by the police.

The six other accused, who have been granted bail, appeared before the court themselves. They included Therapy Works CEO Tahir Zahoor and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2021.