Pakistan’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer in the high-profile Noor Mukadam murder case, dismissing his review petition and reaffirming earlier rulings by lower courts.
Supreme Court’s Final Decision
On Thursday, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer and maintained its earlier judgment upholding his death sentence. The bench comprised Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
The court had previously confirmed the conviction in its May 20, 2025 verdict, and the latest decision closes another legal avenue for the convict. During the hearing, arguments were presented by both sides, including Zahir Jaffer’s counsel Advocate Khawaja Haris and the respondents’ lawyer Shah Khawar. After hearing the arguments, the bench reserved its decision before announcing the final ruling.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to July 2021, when 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was found murdered at a residence in Islamabad’s Sector F-7/4. According to the First Information Report (FIR), she was brutally killed and beheaded after being subjected to violence with a sharp weapon. The incident shocked the nation and triggered widespread public outrage.
Zahir Jaffer was arrested at the crime scene shortly after the incident, while Noor’s father filed the FIR the same day. The case quickly became one of the most closely followed criminal trials in Pakistan’s recent history.
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Trial and Legal Proceedings
In February 2022, a sessions court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death along with additional prison terms and fines. The Islamabad High Court later upheld the death sentence and also converted a 25-year prison term into a second death penalty related to rape charges.
Other individuals accused in the case, including members of household staff and TherapyWorks employees, received varying sentences or were acquitted.
Significance of the Verdict
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the review petition reinforces earlier judgments and brings further legal closure to a case that has remained in the public spotlight since 2021. The ruling is seen as a continuation of the judicial process that has consistently upheld the severity of the crime and its punishments across multiple courts.
