Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed the review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer, the convicted murderer of Noor Mukadam, upholding his death sentence.
Noor Mukadam, 27, was brutally murdered on July 20, 2021, inside a residence in a posh area of Islamabad. Following the investigation, the local Islamabad court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death on February 24, 2022, after finding him guilty of the crime. Jaffer subsequently filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which was rejected on May 20, 2025, with the death sentence confirmed.
After the rejection, Jaffer filed a review petition seeking reconsideration of the sentence. The Supreme Court heard the petition for four hours, with his lawyer Khawaja Haris presenting arguments, while Advocate Shah Khawar represented the parents of Noor Mukadam.
During the hearing, Khawaja Haris argued that although Jaffer was present at the scene of the crime, his mental state at the time was not stable. He cited medical records showing that Jaffer was being treated for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression, and was administered medications while in jail during the trial.
Chief Justice Ashtiaq Ibrahim inquired about the timeline of Jaffer’s treatment, asking whether he was under treatment at the time of the crime. Justice Salahuddin Panhwar further questioned which doctor had treated him and noted that his medical history during school, college, and university should also be presented.
Khawaja Haris presented a letter from the Harley Street Clinic in London, dated 2022, in support of his client’s mental health claims. Justice Panhwar questioned whether Jaffer had personally obtained this document after the incident, highlighting inconsistencies in the defense’s argument.
The defense also noted that a medical board had been requested during the trial to assess Jaffer’s mental health, but this was rejected. Haris clarified that the review petition sought a reconsideration of the merits, not a retrial, emphasizing that the court should have fully considered all facts when awarding the death sentence.
Justice Hashim Kakr responded critically, remarking that if competent defense counsel had represented Jaffer from the start, he would not be facing the current situation. The court rejected the defense’s request to adjourn the hearing and resumed arguments after a brief recess.
After considering all arguments, the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition and upheld Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence, maintaining the previous verdict.
