Zahir Jaffer kicked out of courtroom for creating 'drama'

Judge says will move trial to jail if such behaviour is repeated

ISLAMABAD:

Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect in the Noor Mukadam murder case, was forcibly removed from the courtroom on Wednesday after he hurled expletives at Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani during the hearing of the case.

A district and sessions court in Islamabad took up the case today to record statements and cross-examine the witnesses.

During the hearing, Zahir kept on calling out the name Hamza without pointing at anyone. The judge asked the police to remove him from the courtroom; however, Zahir hid behind the door. He said he wanted to stay in the courtroom and promised not to further interrupt the proceedings.

After some time, he interrupted the court again and hurled abuses at the judge. Subsequently, the judge asked the police to remove him from the courtroom, saying the prime accused was creating a "drama".

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As police tried to take him away, Zahir Jaffer grabbed Inspector Mustafa Kiyani by the collar. However, the police managed to take him out of the courtroom and put him in the court lockup.

Judge Rabbani then summoned the accused's mother Ismat Adamjee to the witness stand. He asked the mother to explain to her son the ramifications of such behaviour. She responded that the court knows about her son's condition.

Her lawyer, Asad Jamal, said that the prime suspect could be spoken to. The judge said they should make the suspect understand the situation kindly. The lawyer responded that of course violence against the suspect was not an option.

According to the judge, in case such behaviour was repeated, he would not issue a contempt of court notice to the accused, but simply start conducting a trial in jail.

During the hearing, three prosecution witnesses -- map-maker Amir Shehzad, ASI Muhammad Riaz and Head Constable Firasat Fahim -- were cross-examined.