ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday reserved until tomorrow, Thursday, its decision on a bail plea by the parents of Zahir Zakir Jaffer, the key suspect in the murder of Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat.
Mukadam was found beheaded at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 sector on July 20. US national Jaffer was arrested on the day of the murder and remained in police custody on physical remand until Monday, when he was sent on 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail in Islamabad’s twin city of Rawalpindi. He will next be presented again before a judicial magistrate on August 16.
Jaffer’s parents — Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee — and two members of their household staff were arrested by Islamabad police on July 24 for “hiding evidence and being complicit in the crime.” The parents, sent to jail on judicial remand till August 9, have moved a bail petition against their detention.
“Today was the hearing for the bail of Zahir’s parents. Each parent was represented by a separate lawyer. Arguments were heard at length. The decision will be announced tomorrow morning,” Mukadam’s legal team said on an official Twitter account used to share case updates.
Today was the hearing for the bail of Zahir’s parents. Each parent was represented by a separate lawyer. Arguments were heard at length. The decision will be announced tomorrow morning.
— Justice for Noor (@justicefornoor) August 4, 2021
During Wednesday’s hearing today, the parents’ counsel, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, said the Jaffers had “publicly condemned the murder.”
“We stand with the affected party, we don’t stand with our son,” local media quoted the counsel as telling the court.
He said the parents had not known what was happening in their house when Mukadam was there.
This undated file photo shows Zahir Zakir Jaffer (left) posing for a picture with his parents in UK. (Photo courtesy: Social media)
Within two weeks since Monday, police are bound by law to file a charge sheet (challan) in the court asking for Jaffer’s trial to commence.
The gruesome murder has sent shockwaves across the country, stirring outrage over femicides and demands for justice. Many activists and social media users have also raised concerns that Jaffer might get a lenient sentence because of his wealthy background and US nationality.
In a July 27 Twitter post, the US Embassy in Islamabad clarified that US citizens in a foreign country were subject to local laws and while the embassy could check on their well-being and provide a list of lawyers if they were arrested abroad, it couldn’t provide legal advice, participate in court proceedings or effect their release.
On Sunday night, during a live a live Q&A session with the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan assured the public: “If someone thinks he is a dual national and has US citizenship and will escape, let me tell you all that no one will be spared.”
