Justice prevails

An exemplary and befitting judgement, indeed. Slain Noor Mukadam’s aggrieved, at least, stand consoled. In a much-awaited decision, a sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death, acquitted his co-accused parents, and handed over 10 years in jail each to two collaborators. The bench also exonerated Therapy Works employees from conspiring charges. The high-profile murder case had acquired immense media glare and its proceedings were often nail-biting. Zahir, a dual citizenship holder, had brutally murdered Noor last year in what appeared to be a case of extra-emotion and revenge in their personal relationship. The fit of anger with which this killing took place had sent shivers down the spine. It was an unpardonable crime, and the revelations were barbaric to the core. Zahir, the prime accused, had initially confessed to the killing, and his DNA test and fingerprints also showed his involvement in the murder. He did retract his confessional statement later, but to no avail.

It was an open and shut case, yet it is a trajectory of our judicial process that it took so long to pronounce a verdict. A host of witnesses, as well as the CCTV footage of the crime scene and affidavits from servants and friends, were more than enough to send Zahir to the gallows. This case, nonetheless, had a dramatic aspect too as the accused off and on resorted to shenanigans, and vehemently indulged in contempt of court. In a bizarre attempt to prove himself mentally retarded, he also played to the gallery and invited the wrath of the honourable bench. The goodwill aspect of the case was that the US Embassy kept itself aloof, and didn’t meddle on the premise of the accused being its citizen. This is a welcome gesture, and surely paved the way for dispensation of justice.

As rightly stated by the victim’s father, the prompt punishment is a victory for justice. The court’s stance is appreciated, as well as the commitment and hard work on the part of the legal bureaucracy, especially the police. It is laudable that civil society rallied behind the victim’s family, and the media did a commendable job in ensuring that any of the off-the-cuff attempts on the part of the accused to exploit the lacunas of law are not availed. It remains to be seen what course of follow-up action the condemned prisoner opts for, but one thing is reassuring: he has been rightly sentenced and is set to meet his fate.

It is the responsibility of the state to remain a proactive member, and a party, in such cases of crime, and ensure that justice is done. The modus operandi of our judicial process is cumbersome, but this case should serve as a precedent as to how the tide of temptation was set aside to realise that justice is seen to be done. It is a feather in the cap for the unrelenting and resilient prosecution and the judiciary, alike. This particular case brought to the fore few indispensable aspects, and they were reliant on forensic, technology and first instance reporting. Let them serve as hallmarks to do away with lethargy and excuses that set in to derail justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2022.

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