Noor Mukadam case: SC adjourns hearing to May 19 amid ‘mental illness’ debate

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19 after Zahir Jaffer’s lawyer sought more time from a disgruntled bench to submit additional documents.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Hashim Khan Kakkar, heard the appeals in the high-profile case. Zahir Jaffer, the prime accused in the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, was represented by Advocate Salman Safdar, who argued that his client was mentally ill — a point he claimed had been overlooked by lower courts.

‘Why Seek Adjournment If You’re Present?’

At the outset, Justice Kakkar questioned Safdar’s request for an adjournment, asking why he needed more time if he was already present in court, given that he had plenty of time. Safdar responded that he intended to file documents that could “completely change the case” and accused previous courts of ignoring SC precedents.

Noor Mukadam case: SC schedules Zahir Jaffer’s appeal for hearing

Justice Baqar Najfi inquired whether Zahir’s mental health had been raised during trial proceedings, and counsel asserted that both the trial court and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had disregarded the issue.

Justice Kakkar remarked that if the argument could still be raised now, there was no barrier to filing a fresh petition. He also expressed frustration over unnecessary delays, stating, “In our court, cases are only adjourned if a judge or lawyer dies.”

‘What would a death row acquittee think?’

In sharp remarks, Justice Kakkar reflected on the justice system’s flaws, saying, “If someone who spent 20 years on death row is acquitted, what must he think?” He added that such a person might “pick up the file and throw it in our faces.”

he pointed out that that delays were often caused by legal practitioners rather than systemic failures. “The fault is not in the system but in us,” he said.

The prosecution, represented by Shah Khawar, strongly opposed any application regarding Zahir’s mental state, prompting Justice Najfi to advise that objections could only be raised once the petition was formally submitted. Safdar, however, maintained that no medical board had ever been formed to evaluate Zahir’s mental health — a critical point in the defense’s strategy it appeared.

Next Hearing on May 19
With both parties agreeing to the adjournment, the bench directed lawyers to return fully prepared for the next hearing.

Zahir Jaffer was sentenced to death in February 2022 for the murder of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former diplomat, in a case that sparked nationwide outrage over violence against women. Noor was beheaded at a house in sector F7 of of Islamabad on 20 July 2021.