Noor’s parents want early execution of Zahir

Shaukat Muqqadam says no compromise with culprit at any stage

ISLAMABAD:

Shaukat Muqqadam, the father of Noor Muqqadam, who was killed in the federal capital last year, has rebuffed rumours that the family was reaching a compromise with the culprit (Zahir Jaffer) at any stage.

“Some people should be careful while talking about any compromise which is out of the question? I have said this over and over again. There is no truth in it. There is no truth in such fabricated stories because it was not a case of only my daughter, in fact, it is a matter of honour of every Pakistani daughter. People who spread fabricated stories should also be careful before passing any comment since they also have their daughters,” Shaukat Muqqadam said while talking to The Express Tribune, along with his wife.

Shaukat Muqqadam said that just as the high court had directed the trial court to expedite the case, now I and the whole nation, request that the high court and the Supreme Court should also adjudicate the case (in case of an appeal from the culprit) at the earliest so that the sentence of the killer could be commuted as soon as possible.

Read: Noor Muqqadam’s father hails verdict

“Most people of Pakistan wanted other accused to be punished as well,” he said.

Noor Muqqadam's mother said while she was praying when someone called her that Zahir Jaffer had been sentenced to death. “I was alone in the house at that time and I was crying and praying for Noor,” she said adding that she felt disappointed when she heard that the other accused had been exonerated.

She said (the culprit) must have been sentenced to death. Thank God, it happened. “I did not show up at the court on the day of judgment because I did not want to see him (Zahir Jafar). I even did not want to see his cruel face on social media and other forums,” she said adding, “Obviously, a person who does this to one’s daughter in such a brutal way, how can he be seen (by a mother)? she can't stand it. We will only be satisfied when he will be hanged.”

She further said that when a call came on July 20, he (Shaukat Muqqadam) was reciting Qur'an. When I heard the sound of his screams, I ran away and said, "What happened? He said my child, my child. I don't know what happened. I thought there was an accident. My son also came. I said, 'Your father is not saying anything.”

She said that the next morning, Shaukat Muqqadam handed over her the FIR, which threw away. “At that moment I found out what had happened. I could not comprehend what was happening in our house,” she said adding: “When the CCTV footage went viral, there was a lot of depression in our house.”

She said that they go to Noor's grave every second day. “My daughter was innocent. She was running away to escape. My elder daughter often says leave me with Noor in the graveyard, I have to talk a lot with Noor,” she said.

“I often tell my son how quiet the house has become without Noor. With the departure of Noor, our house has said goodbye to laughter. People are digging wells in the name of Noor, circumambulation is being done, prayers are being said on Roza Rasool. I don't know which homage or prayer Allah Almighty would have accepted,” she said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2022.