ISLAMABAD – Zahir Jaffer, the man convicted in the Noor Mukadam murder case, has filed a review plea in the Supreme Court. He is challenging the court’s May 20 decision that upheld his death sentence.
The petition, submitted by Advocate Muhammad Usman Mirza, raises questions about the trial process. It claims that video evidence was wrongly used to establish Jaffer’s involvement, without being formally presented or authenticated in court.
Jaffer also argues that no medical board was formed to evaluate his mental condition. The plea suggests this was a key oversight, as his mental state may have impacted the outcome of the case.
In May 2025, a three-member bench of the apex court confirmed Jaffer’s death penalty. The bench included Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. The court also reduced the sentences of two co-accused—the watchman and gardener. It ruled that the jail time already served by them was sufficient.
The Noor Mukadam murder case gained widespread attention in 2021. Noor, a 27-year-old woman and daughter of a former ambassador, was brutally murdered at Jaffer’s home in Islamabad.
Investigations revealed that Noor had tried several times to escape. However, household staff prevented her from leaving. Jaffer later used a knuckleduster to torture her and then beheaded her with a sharp weapon.
In February 2022, a trial court sentenced Jaffer to death. He also received a 25-year jail term with hard labour and a fine. The Islamabad High Court later upheld the sentence and even added another death penalty during the appeals process in March 2023.
Jaffer’s latest petition insists that the video recordings cited as key evidence were not played during trial. It further claims that no forensic experts testified in court to verify the footage.
The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will accept the review request.
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