SC Adjourns Zahir Jaffer’s Appeal Hearing Until May 19 to Review Mental Health Evidence
In February 2022, Jaffer was convicted and sentenced to death along with 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19, 2025.
This decision followed a mutual agreement between the defence and prosecution during the proceedings held on May 13, 2025.
The appeal is being heard by a three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, with Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi also presiding.
Defence counsel Salman Safdar requested additional time to submit further documents, arguing that these could significantly impact the case, particularly emphasizing that Jaffer suffers from a mental illness factor he claims was overlooked by the trial and high courts and for which no medical board was constituted to evaluate Jaffer’s mental health.
The court expressed displeasure over delays but allowed the adjournment, instructing both parties to be fully prepared for the next hearing.
Background:
Noor Mukadam, aged 27, was brutally murdered and found beheaded at Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad’s Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021. Zahir Jaffer was arrested at the crime scene, and a first information report was filed the same day by Noor’s father.
In February 2022, Jaffer was convicted and sentenced to death along with 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine.
His household staff received prison sentences, while other accused, including Jaffer’s parents, were acquitted.
The Islamabad High Court upheld and extended Jaffer’s death sentence in March 2023, and the appeal against this verdict is now before the Supreme Court
