Defence lawyers conclude arguments in Noor case

Judgment likely to be reserved as counsel for victim’s family will wrap up arguments today

ISLAMABAD:

Counsel for all accused in the Noor Muqqadam murder case concluded arguments on Monday.

When Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani resumed hearing of the case, counsel for the accused presented final arguments.

At the outset of the hearing, advocate Shahzad Qureshi, the counsel for five Therapy Works employees, Amjad, Dilip Kumar, Abdul Haq, Wamiq and Samar Abbas, in response to a question raised by the judge, said that his clients had reached the crime scene at around 8 pm and no one attempted to wipe out the evidence as their entire conduct was recorded in the DVR.

Qureshi requested the court to acquit his clients as it was proved from the DVR that instead of removing any evidence from the spot, they seized the main accused Zahir Jaffer and informed the police about the occurrence of the incident. Akram Qureshi, the counsel for owner of Therapy Works Tahir Zahoor also gave final arguments and said that his client was accused of being getting instruction from Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee — the main accused parents — as they called him when they learnt about the murder. However, he added, no record other than the CDR was found through which the prosecution could prove this accusation. Asmat Adamjee's lawyer Asad Jamal in his final arguments said that it was never clarified who informed the police about the murder. He said that his client was accused of not reporting the murder to the police, and removing the evidence from the scene. However, the crime scene in charge never said that an attempt was made to wipe out the evidence, he added.

When Shah Khawar, the counsel for Noor's family, said that the CCTV footage did not reveal anything about the “drug party” it has been made up a fictional story by the main accused.

Regarding the substance formed in the body in the medical report, Shah Khawar said that the substance is also caused by trauma.

'A person is so brutally killed, he must have gone through deep trauma at the time which led to the medical report confirming substance in the body.

He said a stand was taken by the counsel of the main accused that a drug party was held at the house while the 38-hour CCTV footage 38 did not reveal anything regarding the drug party.

“When the deceased entered the house, there was no luggage with her while the accused and the victim were seen in CCTV footage with the luggage containing the belongings of the accused when they left for the airport. He said that when the victim tried to run away, the accused forcibly locked her in the house which is also clear in CCTV footage.

“The defence counsel tried to paint the incident as the honour killing, while never once during the trial did anything of this kind come from the defence side,” he said.

After the court time ended, the judge asked Shah Khawar to continue his arguments on Tuesday. The verdict of the case is likely to be reserved today.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2022.