Supreme Court Upholds Zahir Jaffer’s Death Sentence in Noor Mukadam Murder
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer, upholding his death sentence for the 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam.
A three-member bench comprising Justices Hashim Khan Kakar, Salahuddin Pahnwar, and Ishtiaq Ibrahim announced the verdict after hearing arguments from both Zahir’s counsel, Advocate Khawaja Haris, and the respondents’ counsel, Shah Khawar.
Noor, 27, was found murdered at Zahir’s residence in Islamabad in July 2021. An investigation revealed she had been tortured before being beheaded. A trial court sentenced Zahir to death in February 2022, a verdict that was subsequently upheld by the Islamabad High Court and later by the Supreme Court.
The review petition, filed under Article 188 of the Constitution, argued that the court had not adequately addressed the issue of Zahir’s alleged mental incapacity. It also contended there was no evidence to support a separate rape charge.
With the dismissal of this final review plea, the only remaining recourse for Zahir is a potential presidential pardon under Article 45 of the Constitution.
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Updated: 6:34 PM PKT — June 4, 2026
During the final review petition hearing, Zahir Jaffer’s counsel centered his arguments on the convict’s alleged mental instability, citing bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. While admitting an ‘atrocity was committed’ and apologising to the victim’s family, the defense requested leniency and argued that media pressure had prevented a drug test on Jaffer during the trial.
The Supreme Court bench dismissed these arguments, questioning the lack of a prior medical history. The court rejected a plea to constitute a medical board, noting the matter had already been settled by lower courts, and affirmed that its decisions are not influenced by media pressure before it ultimately upheld the death sentence.
Updated: 6:02 PM PKT — June 4, 2026
During the review petition hearing, Zahir Jaffer’s counsel argued for a reduced sentence, claiming his client was not mentally sound at the time of the murder due to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The defense also questioned why a drug test was not performed on Jaffer, suggesting the prosecution was under media pressure.
The three-member bench rejected these arguments, questioning the evidence of mental illness and noting that a request for a medical board had been previously dismissed by the trial court and not challenged further. The court also formally dismissed the plea to form a medical board to assess Jaffer’s mental state, asserting that its decisions are not influenced by media pressure before upholding the death sentence.
