Police say yet to decide on remand extension of suspect in Noor Mukadam case

ISLAMABAD: People across the globe have donated $49,843 to help fight the court case of a 27-year-old girl who was brutally murdered on July 20, a lawyer representing the bereaved said on Friday, while police said they had yet to decide if they wanted to extend the physical remand of main suspect Zahir Jaffer. 
The police on Friday took the main accused, Zahir Zakir Jaffer, to the Punjab Forensic Laboratory in Lahore where he took a polygraph test. A forensic analysis of the CCTV footage acquired from his residence was also performed at the facility. 
“The polygraph test of the suspect and other important forensic analysis of the evidence collected from the crime scene will help strengthen the case,” Inspector Abdul Sattar, who is investigating Noor Mukadam’s murder, told Arab News on Friday.
Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene soon after the murder last Tuesday and has since remained in police custody on physical remand. His parents are also under arrest. 
Jaffer’s latest three-day physical remand is expiring tomorrow (Saturday), and the police have yet to decide if they want to get it extended to complete their investigation.
“We will discuss it with the high-ups tonight if we need Zahir Jaffer on further physical remand,” the investigation officer said.
He declined to divulge further details of the case.
The brutal killing and beheading of the daughter of former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam has sent shockwaves through the country, prompting people to demand justice in the case.
Salaar Khan, one of the lawyers representing the Mukadams, told Arab News some friends and family members of the victim had launched the fundraising campaign on GoFundMe on Wednesday which generated over $49,000 to fight her case in Pakistani courts.
He said the fund was closed down on Friday on the request of the victim’s father after a sufficient amount was collected.
“Shaukat Mukadam said it was sufficient for now and thanked all the donors,” Khan saud, adding that unspent funds would be donated to similar causes.
He said all lawyers, including Shah Khawar and his associates, were currently providing pro bono services to the Mukadam family, though he added the case could go on for years and the victim’s family might require these funds to pay the legal team.
Meanwhile, a local court in Islamabad on Friday deferred the bail petition of the suspect’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, until August 4 after Shaukat Mukadam said he needed time until Monday to get a lawyer.
“The courts usually grant bail to the accused in cases wherein the maximum punishment is under ten years,” Khan said. “We will oppose the bail, but let’s see what the court decides.”
He continued that even if bail was granted, it would not impact the overall case.