‘No compromise with Noor’s killers’
Activists hold placards and candles during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, who was found murdered at a house in Islamabad in July. Photo: AFP
Shaukat Muqqadam, the father of Noor Muqqadam, who was killed in the federal capital on 20 July 2021, has ruled out the possibility that his family may reach a compromise with the main culprit (Zahir Jaffer).
A local court of Islamabad sentenced the main culprit Zahir Jafar to death and handed down 10-year imprisonment to his employees Iftikhar and Jan Muhammad.
The appeal against the sentence is pending in the Islamabad High Court and is scheduled for a hearing on September 14.
While Speaking to Express Tribune, Shaukat Muqqadam recalling the moments said that “at first I was in disbelief for a minute and then I was screaming and crying a lot. My wife and children came running. Resurrection broke out in our house. I controlled myself at that moment. I feel like broken at that time”.
He went on to say that despite a year having passed, they feel that Noor is going to come back.
He said that "I have said it before and I am still saying that there is no question of compromise with the culprit because now it is the case for all the daughters of Pakistan. I will not show any sort of flexibility. Just as I stand for Noor, I stand for the daughters of Pakistan and I will go to any extent for the honour of these daughters".
Noor Muqqadam's mother said that "that night was the doom’s day for us. “Noor was the youngest among the siblings, so we all loved her very much. In a year, we have not forgotten her even for a moment. We could not sleep at night because of the pain we have gone through this whole year".
On the other hand, the Islamabad High Court has ordered the registrar's office to prepare paper books of the case.
While the plaintiff Shaukat Muqaddam has challenged the acquittal of Asmat Adam, Zakir Jafar, Jameel Ahmed, and six people of Therapy Works. The plaintiff has also filed an appeal to increase the sentences of Zahir Jafar, Iftikhar and Jan Muhammad, who have been consolidated by the high court and scheduled for a hearing on September 14. A bench consisting of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir will hear the appeals.
Noor Muqaddam was murdered on July 20, 2021
Additional Sessions Judge Islamabad Atta Rabbani completed the trial of the case and pronounced the verdict on February 24 in which the main culprit Zahir Jafar was sentenced to death.
Zahir Jafar was also sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with rigorous labour for the crime of rape, ten years imprisonment with hard labour for the crime of kidnapping, and one-year imprisonment for the crime of keeping Noor Muqaddam in forced confinement.
In its verdict, the court sentenced Gardner, Jan Muhammad and guard, Iftikhar to 10 years in prison for aiding and abetting the crime, while acquitting the main accused's father Zakir Jafar and mother Asmat Adamji, domestic worker Jameel Ahmed, CEO and employees of Therapy Works.
The court had written in the verdict that the prosecution had presented evidence on a forensic and scientific basis which led to the case being proved.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2022.