The probe revealed Noor, aged 27 years, was tortured before being beheaded. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had upheld Zahir’s death sentence by the trial court.
Led by Justice Hashim Kakar, a three-member bench including Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi, presided over the third hearing of Zahir’s appeal against his death sentence.
The bench upheld Zahir’s death sentence over the murder charges under Section 302(b) (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
However, the bench converted the IHC’s decision of a second death penalty over rape charges into a life sentence . The high court had turned Zahir’s 25 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 376 of the PPC into a death sentence.
The Supreme Court bench also maintained the earlier orders to Zahir to pay Rs0.5 million to Noor’s legal heir.
In the landmark decision, the apex court upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer in the brutal murder case of Noor Mukadam, dismissing his final appeal. The case, which gripped the nation, also marked a critical moment in the ongoing fight for justice for women across the country.
Throughout the trial, controversial remarks from judges sparked public backlash, with Justice Hashim Kakar stating that Noor’s presence alone with Zahir was “against our values,” according to AFP. These comments highlighted the deeply rooted societal biases that often surface even within the judicial process.
Outside the courtroom, Noor’s close friend Shafaq Zaidi described the verdict as a “victory for all the women of Pakistan,” adding, “This was our last resort, and it’s hard to put into words what this outcome means to us. It proves our justice system can work.”
Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah echoed the sentiment, calling the verdict a “milestone achievement” in the struggle against patriarchy and institutional misogyny. She condemned the defense team’s courtroom rhetoric as reflective of the systemic challenges women face.
Zahir’s legal team had argued that evidence must be “beyond doubt” and criticized the prosecution’s inability to play a key video file during earlier hearings. They also attempted to downplay the involvement of the co-accused — the watchman and gardener — claiming their only “crime” was being present at the scene. Justice Najafi, however, firmly noted, “If they hadn’t stopped the victim, the situation could have been very different.”
When Noor’s family’s counsel, Khawar, took the floor, he emphasized the weight of the forensic evidence. “Noor Mukadam was held in captivity for 40 hours,” he said. DNA reports and blood samples confirmed the brutal nature of the crime, including a dagger that tested positive for her blood.
Justice Kakar challenged the abduction claim by suggesting it could be viewed as “unjust confinement,” but Noor’s legal team stood firm.
Concluding the proceedings, the state’s counsel passionately urged the court to treat the case as exemplary. “There should be no forgiveness for this heinous crime. The state views this tragedy with utmost seriousness.”
In the end, the court upheld Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence and commuted the sentences of the two household staff members to the time they had already served.
