SC dismisses Zahir Jaffer review plea in Noor Mukadam murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case and maintained its earlier ruling upholding his death sentence.

Noor, 27, was found murdered at Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad in July 2021. The investigation had found that she was tortured by him before being beheaded.

Jaffer was sentenced to death by a trial court in February 2022. His challenge to that verdict was later dismissed by the Islamabad High Court, and the Supreme Court had already upheld his death sentence once before the review plea was taken up.

A three-member bench comprising Justices Hashim Khan Kakar, Salahuddin Panhwar and Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the review petition. Advocate Khawaja Haris appeared for Jaffer, while Shah Khawar represented the respondents. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench announced its verdict. Following the latest ruling, a presidential pardon under Article 45 of the Constitution remains the only legal option available to Jaffer.