ISLAMABAD: Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect in the gruesome July murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, said at an indictment hearing on Thursday that he had committed the “crime” but appealed to the judge to release him from jail and put him under house arrest.
At a hearing that lasted nearly three hours, a district and sessions court in Islamabad indicted 12 people present in the courtroom, including the main accused Jaffer, for their alleged involvement in the murder of Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakitani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam. Mukadam’s beheaded body was found at the Jaffer residence in Islamabad on July 20.
Others against whom charges were framed on Thursday include Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, their three household staff, Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad and Jameel, and six workers from Therapy Works, a counselling centre from where Jaffer had received certification to become a therapist and where he had been receiving treatment in the weeks leading up to the murder.
The court has now summoned witnesses on October 20 to record their statements and plans to complete the trial of all twelve suspects within eight weeks as ordered by the Islamabad High Court.
The trail will be one of the most closely watched in recent history, as Mukadam’s murder has sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention unlike any other recent crime against women.
“I accept I have committed this crime, now it’s up to you to punish or forgive me,” a somber looking Jaffer, visibly in low spirits unlike at previous hearings, said before additional sessions judge Atta Rabbani. “We quarrelled, and we both were angry, and this all happened.”
Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene on the day of the murder. He was initially on police remand but was moved to Adiala Jail in the city of Rawalpindi on judicial remand in early August where he has been detained since.
As lawyers for the Jaffer and Mukadam families presented arguments, Jaffer kept interrupting and saying speaking before the court was his “basic right.” At one point he sat down and started sobbing loudly.
“I want to apologise,” he said. “This case is related to me. You are hearing the lawyers of others but not giving me time.”
The accused said he had been in a relationship with Mukadam. At one point he turned to the victim’s father and said, “I was in a relationship with your daughter for the last three years. My life is now in your hands. Please have mercy on me.”
“But if you want to see me hanged, it’s okay and I’m ready for it.”
Jaffer also said Noor had offered herself for “the sacrifice.” It was unclear what he meant by “sacrifice.”
At multiple times during the hearing, the accused blamed Therapy Works staff for the murder, though it was unclear how their presence at the scene had led him to behead Mukadam. Police have said a team from the counselling centre was already at the crime scene when they arrived on July 20, having been summoned by Jaffer's parents who were in Karachi at the time of the crime.
“We had arguments, but if these people [Therapy Works staff] didn’t come in, this [the murder] would not have happened,” he added, pointing to Amjad, a Therapy Works employee indicted in the case. “He is the guy … I asked them [Therapy Works staff] to wait outside [my home] for at least thirty minutes, but they barged in through a window and this all happened.”
Jaffer also appealed to the judge to release him from jail and put him under house arrest.
“I can’t live in the jail, can’t lead such a life. I want to live a life where I have a wife and children.”
“Please tell me if you’re going to hang me,” he added. “Release me or forgive me.”
He requested the court multiple times to let him make a phone call, though he did not specify who he wanted to call.
Regarding a pistol found at the crime scene, Jaffer said both his and Mukadam’s fingerprints were found on the weapon.
“That pistol belongs to my father. And this all was in my father’s knowledge,” he said. It was unclear if he meant that his father knew he was going to commit a crime.