Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has released a detailed verdict in the high-profile Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding the death sentence of the main accused, Zahir Jaffer. The 13-page judgment, authored by Justice Hashim Kakar, also affirms the admissibility of digital and video evidence, citing international precedents and evolving legal standards.
In a significant observation, the court endorsed the Silent Witness Theory, which allows for the admissibility of video footage as evidence even in the absence of eyewitnesses. The judgment stated that authenticated video recordings, CCTV footage, DVRs, and hard disks are valid forms of primary evidence, provided they meet legal and technical standards. The court clarified that no alterations were found in the submitted videos, and Zahir Jaffer's identification in the footage was accurate.
Citing a previous bank robbery case, the court emphasized that video evidence can be accepted without corroborating testimony, aligning with legal principles established in courts across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It further noted that digital evidence, under modern legal frameworks, has become a cornerstone of criminal prosecution.
The verdict confirms that the video presented in court, depicting the physical assault on Noor Mukadam, was credible and legally admissible. Additionally, DNA analysis confirmed sexual assault, and forensic evidence verified the presence of the victim’s blood on the murder weapon.
In its strongly worded judgment, the court described Zahir Jaffer as a "brutal murderer undeserving of sympathy." The apex court unanimously upheld the death penalty for murder imposed by the trial and high courts. However, the death sentence for the rape conviction was commuted to life imprisonment.
The court acquitted Jaffer of the abduction charge but upheld his conviction for the unlawful confinement of Noor Mukadam. Regarding the co-accused—Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan—the court maintained their convictions but showed leniency by reducing their sentences. Given the time they have already served, the court ordered their release.
The ruling marks a milestone in Pakistan’s legal treatment of digital evidence and sets a precedent for the broader application of video-based proof in future criminal trials.
Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old woman of Pakistani-Jordanian descent and the daughter of former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, became the face of one of the most horrifying murder cases in Pakistan’s recent memory. On July 20, 2021, she was brutally killed in a private residence located in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4. Reports revealed that Noor had been held hostage for two days, during which she endured severe torture, sexual assault, and was ultimately beheaded. The crime scene was described by investigators as harrowing.
Zahir Jaffer, the primary accused and son of a wealthy industrialist family, was arrested at the scene. He later confessed to premeditated murder, stating he intended to kill Noor if she declined his marriage proposal. Despite multiple escape attempts by Noor, the household staff, allegedly under Zahir’s orders, prevented her from leaving—leading to charges of complicity against his parents and employees. In February 2022, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced Zahir to death, while two domestic staff members, Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan, were each handed ten-year prison terms.
The case ignited a wave of national and international outrage, highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding struggle with gender-based violence. Social media campaigns under the hashtag #JusticeForNoor flooded timelines, with celebrities, activists, and ordinary citizens demanding accountability. Vigils were held not only across Pakistan but also globally, with the first of many taking place in Toronto, organized by activist Zahra Haider.
While the brutality of the crime itself was shocking, the public response was intensified by fears that Zahir's influential family might leverage their power to obstruct justice. These concerns led to widespread calls for transparency and fairness in the investigation. In a rare move, both the Jaffer and Adamjee families publicly condemned Zahir’s actions and distanced themselves from him, pledging to support legal proceedings.
The case was further elevated as a test of the justice system's ability to withstand elite influence. Commentators such as Fatima Bhutto highlighted the structural inequities in Pakistan, pointing out that many victims of violence are never acknowledged—simply because they lack status or visibility. Noor’s murder echoed earlier high-profile cases, including the 2016 killing of social media personality Qandeel Baloch, after which legal reforms were introduced to address so-called “honour” killings.
Yet, the persistence of such crimes suggests deeper societal failures. In May 2025, Pakistan was shaken again by the tragic murder of TikTok star Sana Yousuf. Like Noor, she was killed after reportedly rejecting a marriage proposal. This disturbing repetition underlines the state’s continued inability to deter gender-based violence, despite previous legal reforms and public commitments to justice.
These cases continue to serve as grim reminders that women’s safety remains precarious, and that meaningful structural change remains an urgent necessity.
