IHC seeks record of Noor murder trial

Zahir Jaffer challenging death sentence in high court

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought the whole record of the Noor Muqqadam murder trial on an appeal of the plaintiff against the acquittal of nine accused in the murder case.

IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq heard the plea filed by Shaukat Muqqdam, the father of late Noor Muqqdam, who has challenged the acquittal of nine accused including the parents of Zahir Jaffar and six employees of Therapy Works in the high-profile murder case.

Meanwhile, Zahir Jaffer, who had been handed down the death penalty in the murder, on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against his conviction.

After a four-month trial, a sessions court in Islamabad handed down the death penalty to Zahir with 25 years of rigorous imprisonment while his employees, watchman Muhammad Iftikhar and gardener Mohammad Jan, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for abetting in the act.

Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani acquitted his parents, Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee and a domestic helper, Jamil, as well as six other suspects in the case including Therapy Works employees, from the charge of abetment.

When the IHC bench heard the case, advocate Shah Khawar appeared in the court on behalf of Noor's father.

“Now that an appeal against the conviction of the main accused has been filed, the court seeks all documents of the trial court in the murder case,” Justice Farooq said.

The court also clubbed the appeal of Zahir Jaffar against his death penalty with Shaukat Muqqadam’s appeal against the acquittal of nine accused in the case.

The appeal states that digital evidence is available against the accused and the trial court acquitted them against the law and they should be punished according to law.

Earlier on Friday, the plaintiff in the Noor Muqqadam murder case filed review appeals in the Islamabad High Court seeking to increase sentences of three convicts including the main convict Zahir Jaffer.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2022.