The trial court hearing the Noor Muqqadam murder case on Wednesday observed that there was no legal bar in staying at the house where the 27-year-old girl was murdered in July.
After getting bail from the Supreme Court, Asmat Adamjee, the mother of Zahir Jaffer— the main suspect in the murder case — had sought permission from the court to live in the house where Noor Muqqadam was killed by her son on July 20.
During the hearing, Asad Jamal, the lawyer for Asmat Adamjee, drew the court's attention towards the proposition. At this, the court asked who has stopped Asmat from staying there.
The lawyer said that they were seeking permission from the court so the police did not have to frame or make fresh accusations.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Shah Khawar, also said that the law was clear in this context and seeking permission was not required.
After hearing, the court disposed of the matter.
On the other hand, the first witness testified before the trial court in the Noor Muqqadam murder case. Additional District and Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani resumed hearing in the murder case.
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During the hearing, the prime suspect Zahir Jaffer kept interrupting which annoyed the judge who asked the police to hush him up.
The defendants’ lawyers completed the cross-examination of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Raza. The court summoned five more witnesses in the next hearing.
During the cross-examination, the defence lawyers said that he was neither a Muhrar nor a duty officer or in-charge officer of the police station.
The witness said he was a senior sub-inspector at the Kohsar Police Station.
The lawyers asked whether he has something in writing which showed he was the officer in charge. To which, the witness replied that no such practice existed.
The counsel said that the Islamabad police have been strictly instructed to computerise the preliminary report. The witness replied they first pen down the report and then digitise it.
The court objected to the presence of the plaintiff’s lawyer during the cross-examination and ousted him from the courtroom.
The defence lawyer asked the witness if he was present at the police station on October 20. The witness replied that he was present there between 4pm and 2 am.
During the hearing, the court summoned the prime suspect and appointed Sehriyar Nawaz Khan as his counsel. The suspect also met his counsel.
The court summoned five more witnesses including cartographer Amir Shehzad, Basharat, Abid Latif, computer operator Mudassir, and Aqsa Rani at the next hearing on October 27.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2021.
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