'This is for every woman'

Following four years of a legal battle in the Noor Mukadam case, the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld Zahir Jaffer's death sentence on Tuesday.

Led by Justice Hashim Kakar, three members including Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi presided over the bench for the third hearing of Zahir's appeal against his death sentence, which it later dismissed. Zahir's death sentence by the trial court had already been upheld by the Islamabad High Court.

"This is a victory for all the women of Pakistan. It shows that our justice system can deliver justice and should give women more confidence in the legal process," Noor's friend, Shafaq Zaidi, told AFP. "This was our last resort, and it's hard to put into words what this outcome means to us."

Under Article 45, the power to grant Zahir pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute his sentence now lies with the President.

"After four long years of relentless struggle, we finally have #JusticeForNoor," said the Instagram statement by handle Justice For Noor, run by the deceased's friends. "This verdict is more than a decision - it is a powerful reminder that women's lives matter, their voices will be heard, and their stories will not be silenced. This is not just for Noor. This is for every woman in Pakistan."

Artists weigh in

Artists and activists were also quick to laud the decision regarding the case, which caused nationwide outrage after it was first brought to light in 2021.

The news prompted reactions from various celebrities. Mahira Khan reshared the post on Instagram Stories with a dove emoji, while Mawra Hocane wrote, "Justice for Noor, served." Aiman Khan offered a simple prayer: "Alhamdulillah."

Also sharing the news on Instagram Stories, Dananeer Mobeen wrote, "No amount of torture and punishment will ever be enough for this monster. Rest in peace, Noor."

Meanwhile, Osman Khalid Butt penned his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter). Referring to Noor's father, he wrote, "For almost four years, Shaukat uncle kept reassuring us that he had full faith in the judicial system. Alhamdulillah, the Supreme Court has upheld Zahir's death sentence today after a strong rebuttal by the prosecution team. I would like to thank the SC for honouring his belief that, in the end, justice would triumph."

In a different note, Osman reassessed the dominance of justice over privilege, reminding his followers that Noor's family won this battle against an influential perpetrator.

"The assumption that both parties were 'equally powerful', and that Noor's background alone secured her justice, is not only incorrect, but it also takes away from landmark judgement," he observed. "That Zahir's conviction was upheld despite his family's reach and legal resources is the real story."

The Ehde Wafa actor stressed that the ruling has set a powerful precedent, warning privileged criminals that they can't easily flee their crimes and that their status will grant them no leniency when it comes to gender-based violence. "As a lawyer friend once said: it's not the background of a victim that prejudices a case, but that of the perpetrator, who is then let off."

He acknowledged that the verdict wasn't inevitable and that the defence had prepared an "exhaustive" case for not just a reduced sentence but for Zahir's complete acquittal. "Every legal loophole that could be exploited, was."

Admitting that he holds some grievances, he added, "I have strong objections to some of the statements made by the SC bench (which I'll discuss separately). However, the court upheld the death sentence despite minor procedural and protocol flaws in evidence recovery. Justice prevailed over red-tape protocols."

Osman concluded that the case will be used as a strong source for all future cases of a similar "heinous nature", carving out a path for other victims to be brought to justice. "It is a roadmap for all victims who might be silenced or dismissed. Recognise and celebrate that."

Bittersweet sentiments

Noor was 27 years old when she was found brutally murdered inside Zahir's residence in Islamabad's F-7/4 sector. Further investigation revealed that, prior to her death, she had been tortured by a knuckleduster and beheaded.

The case prompted an outpouring of sympathy and grief towards the victim, her friends, and family - especially her father, former ambassador Shaukat Ali Mukadam, who fought long and hard to bring his daughter's killer to justice.

The recent news has reignited the internet's emphatic outcry against femicide. Relief over the SC ruling hung in the balance, as many social media users reluctantly celebrated the new development.

"Justice delayed but served. Thinking of both Noor and her father today. This is a country where fathers routinely kill their own daughters in the name of so-called honour, but Noor's father fought tirelessly for justice for her even after she was gone. May her family find peace now," an X user hoped.

Another wrote, "Noor Mukadam will never come home. But today, justice did. Zahir Jaffer's final appeal has been rejected. His death sentence stands. Let this verdict echo: women are not disposable. Her voice became a reckoning. This is for every woman who was ever silenced."