SC grants bail to Zahir Jaffer's mother, disposes of father's plea

Judge says no serious evidence exists against Asmat Adamjee; Zakir Jaffer withdraws bail plea

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) granted bail on Monday to the mother of Zahir Jaffer, prime accused in the brutal murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, while disposing off the father's bail plea after it was withdrawn.

A three-judge bench led by Umar Ata Bandial heard the case. During the hearing, the top court observed that the two accused, Asmat Adamjee and Zakir Jaffer, should be given the right to fair trial.

Justice Bandial commented that prima facie, there was apparently no serious evidence available against the accused's mother.

He further added that the court didn't want to affect the ongoing trial. Justice Qazi Amin said that a fair trial couldn't be compromised at any cost.

Justice Amin observed that criminal cases take a total of three days to be wrapped up, but are not completed even after the passage of two years.

Read ‘Noor was kept in captivity for 3 days’

At this, Justice Bandial said that the court may issue directives for the case's proceedings to be done on a daily basis.

Speaking on the occasion, counsel for the accused Khwaja Haris apprised the court that a lot of case record had not yet been provided to the accused.

He added that Zahir's parents were not the main accused and faced charges of hiding the murder and and not informing the police.

At this, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah commented that the father of the accused might be directing on the call to commit the murder, or might be attempting to stop it. Haris responded that the prime accused might not be telling his father the truth at all.

Counsel Shah Khawar informed those in attendance that the mother of the accused and the gatekeeper had a chat following Noor Mukadam's jump from the terrace.

Read more IHC issues notice to Noor's father

He said that the accused woman could have prevented the murder if she wanted to do so.

Justice Mansoor observed that the parents of the accused were together while the conversations with the son took place.

"Apparently, the mother knew as much as the father about the incident," the judge said adding, "Let us grant her a bail on the basis that she is a woman; let's not go into the matter on the basis of merit."

Earlier this month, the parents of Zahir Jaffer had approached the SC for post-arrest bail after the Islamabad High Court rejected their bail plea.

The father and mother had filed two separate pleas in the top court through their counsel.

It may be noted here that Zahir and Asmat had been in police custody for “aiding and abetting” their son in the murder of Noor Mukadam.