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.
Police say yet to decide on remand extension of suspect in Noor Mukadam case
https://arab.news/5p6g4
Police say yet to decide on remand extension of suspect in Noor Mukadam case
- Over $49,000 raised for legal case of murdered ex-diplomat’s daughter, lawyers say
- Main suspect Zahir Jaffer taken to Punjab Forensic Laboratory for a polygraph test, forensic analysis
Pakistan voices support for Saudi diplomatic efforts for peace, stability in Yemen
- The development comes days after a deal between Yemen’s Houthis, government to exchange nearly 3,000 prisoners
- Islamabad underscores the need to uphold Yemen’s unity, hoping that the stakeholders will avoid any unilateral steps
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fully supports diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for ensuring peace and stability in Yemen, the Pakistani foreign office said on Friday.
The development comes days after an agreement between Yemen’s Houthi group and its internationally recognized government to exchange nearly 3,000 prisoners, which Riyadh hailed as a crucial humanitarian measure to help alleviate human suffering and foster confidence-building in Yemen.
The deal came after nearly a fortnight of discussions between Yemeni officials from both sides in Muscat, the capital of neighboring Oman, a key mediator in the conflict that has lasted for more than a decade.
The Pakistani foreign office underscored the need to uphold unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, expressing hope that Yemeni stakeholders will avoid any unilateral steps and urging all parties to engage constructively toward an inclusive, negotiated political solution of the conflict.
“Pakistan expresses its hope that the ongoing diplomatic efforts will result in concrete steps toward achieving lasting peace in the country, and in bringing an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people,” it said in a statement.
“We also commend the efforts of the UAE in this regard.”
United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg in a statement welcomed the agreement as “a positive and meaningful step that will hopefully ease the suffering of detainees and their families across Yemen.”
On Thursday, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with a negotiating delegation concerned with detainees in the country and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the complete release of all detainees, abductees and forcibly disappeared persons from all parties, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, he emphasized the importance of completing implementation procedures, exchanging lists and records, and expediting the execution of the agreed mechanism for the exchange process.
