SC rejects Zahir Jaffer’s review plea in Noor Mukadam murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer and upheld its earlier judgment maintaining his death sentence in the high-profile murder case of Noor Mukadam.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the review petition.

During the proceedings, Advocate Khawaja Haris represented Zahir Jaffer, while Advocate Shah Khawar appeared on behalf of the respondents.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench reserved its verdict and later announced the dismissal of the review petition, effectively upholding the Supreme Court’s earlier decision issued on May 20, 2025.

The Noor Mukadam murder case drew nationwide attention in July 2021 after the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani ambassador was found dead at a residence in Islamabad’s Sector F-7/4.

According to the prosecution, Noor had repeatedly attempted to escape on the night of the incident but was prevented from leaving by two members of the accused’s household staff.

Investigators said she was subjected to severe violence before being killed with a sharp-edged weapon.

Zahir Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene, while the victim’s father lodged a first information report the same day.

According to the FIR, Noor had been beheaded after being murdered, an incident that sparked widespread outrage across the country.

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In February 2022, a district and sessions court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death for murder, along with a 25-year prison term with hard labour and a fine of Rs200,000.

Two members of his domestic staff, Iftikhar and Jameel, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, while several other co-accused, including Jaffer’s parents and employees of TherapyWorks, were acquitted.

In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld the death sentence and converted the 25-year imprisonment awarded in the rape case into an additional death penalty.

An appeal against the Islamabad High Court verdict was later filed before the Supreme Court, which, in May 2025, upheld the death sentence awarded to Zahir Jaffer for the murder of Noor Mukadam.

With Thursday’s ruling, the apex court has reaffirmed its earlier judgment by dismissing the convict’s final review plea.