Court indicts Zahir Jaffer, parents

ISLAMABAD:

A local court on Thursday indicted Zahir Jaffer, the prime accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, his parents and other accused.

During today's hearing, presided by Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani, the court indicted the prime accused along with his parents, Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee, their employees Iftikhar, Jamil and Jan Mohammed, and the CEO of Therapy Works Tahir Zahoor were indicted.

The court has now summoned prosecution witnesses on October 20 and will implement the Islamabad High Court’s order to complete the trial within two months.

Six accused, including Zahir, were produced before the court from Adiala Jail.

Additionally, six defendants from Therapy Works – currently on bail – also appeared in person in court notices. During the hearing, the lawyers of accused Ismat Adamjee, Zakir Jaffer and Tahir Zahoor presented their arguments.

During today's proceedings, Zahir stated that Rizwan Abbasi was not his appointed counsel and all that the lawyer had stated was "baseless". However, the lawyer maintained that he does represent the accused's father in the case.

“I want to make a phone call to further strengthen the case,” Zahir prayed the court, while his father’s lawyer stated that there was "insufficient evidence" to charge the accused.

The prime accused in the case first stated in court that his co-accused had murdered the victim and asked the court if they were indicted or not.

He then stated that he had committed the crime and said "I did it" repeatedly, adding that the firearm used belonged to his father, Zakir Jaffer.

Read Zahir Jaffer's parents move SC for bail

The prime accused then made an astonishing claim and stated that Noor had "presented herself for sacrifice and it is permissible in Islam".

He also pleaded before the judge to change his sentence to house arrest as he "cannot go back to prison" as he "gets beaten up in jail".

Zahir Jaffer then got on his knees and apologized to the court. “I do not want to die behind bars. I should be married; I should have kids”. He stated that the lawyer’s remarks were baseless and pleaded to be pardoned.

“Noor and I had fought. It was my fault, but she was also angry,” he claimed.

Zahir also attempted to speak to Noor’s father, alleging that he and Noor were in love and had been in a relationship for three years.

“My life is in your hands, you can save me,” he said to the victim's father, adding that he did not mind if Shaukat wanted to take his life.

Noor’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, later told journalists that Zahir was "lying".

Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was murdered in Islamabad’s F-7/4 neighbourhood on July 20. Zahir Jaffer was arrested at the crime scene on the same day. The incident had also sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention.

Zahir Jaffer’s parents and their servants are also under arrest on charges of abetment and hiding evidence. According to the challan, Therapy Works employees tried to cover up the crime and destroyed the evidence.