How Noor Muqaddam case galvanised public

Islamabad:The ferocious murder of Noor Muqaddam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, in Islamabad in July 2021, sent shockwaves across Pakistan and the globe, sparking extensive outrage and a renewed debate on violence against women. The case, which involved abduction, torture, and decapitation, concluded with the prime accused, Zahir Jaffer, being sentenced to death, a verdict that was later upheld by higher courts.

On July 20, 2021, Noor Muqaddam was held captive and brutally murdered at the residence of Zahir Jaffer in the affluent F-7/4 sector of Islamabad. Investigations revealed a horrifying sequence of events. Noor had attempted to escape but was prevented from doing so by the household staff. Over the course of two days, she was subjected to vicious torture before being beheaded.

The gruesome nature of the crime was laid bare by the post-mortem report, which detailed multiple stab wounds and the eventual cause of death as beheading. The immediate aftermath saw the arrest of Zahir Jaffer from the scene of the crime. The police also took into custody his parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, and members of their household staff on charges of abetting the murder and concealing evidence.

The trial of Noor Muqaddam's murder began in October 2021. The prosecution presented a compelling case, built on forensic evidence, call data records, and witness testimonies. The DNA report confirmed that the victim had been raped before her death, and the fingerprints and DNA on the murder weapon, a knife, matched those of Zahir Jaffer.

Throughout the trial, Zahir Jaffer made several attempts to portray himself as mentally unstable, a claim that was refuted by medical evaluations. His erratic behaviour in court and attempts to disrupt the proceedings were widely reported.

On February 24, 2022, a sessions court in Islamabad delivered its much-anticipated verdict. Zahir Jaffer was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to death. He was also awarded a concurrent 25-year prison sentence with a fine of Rs200,000 for rape. His parents and a therapist were acquitted of all charges. Two of the household staff, a gardener and a watchman, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for their role in abetting the crime.

The convicts, including Zahir Jaffer, appealed their sentences in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). In a significant development on March 22, 2023, the IHC upheld the death sentence for Zahir Jaffer. In a move that was lauded by civil society, the court also converted the 10-year sentences of the two household staff members into life imprisonment.

The legal battle culminated in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In January 2024, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, took up the appeals filed by Zahir Jaffer and the other convicts. After a series of hearings, the apex court upheld the death sentence for Zahir Jaffer, bringing a legal closure to a case that had gripped the nation.

The killing of Noor Muqaddam stands as a harrowing reminder of the vulnerability of women in Pakistan and the long and arduous path to justice. The case galvanized a nationwide movement demanding an end to gender-based violence and highlighted the critical need for robust legal and social frameworks to protect women. While the legal battle may have concluded, the memory of Noor Muqaddam continues to fuel the fight for a safer society for all.

The Brutal Murder of Noor Muqaddam: A Timeline from a Heinous Crime to a Landmark Verdict The chilling murder of Noor Muqaddam, sent shockwaves across Pakistan and the globe, igniting a nationwide conversation on gender-based violence and the efficacy of the justice system. The case, which culminated in the death sentence for her killer, Zahir Jaffer, has become a landmark in the country's legal history, marked by public outrage, a high-profile trial, and a protracted legal battle that finally saw justice delivered.

On July 20, 2021, Noor Muqaddam was found brutally murdered at the residence of her acquaintance, Zahir Jaffer, in a posh neighbourhood of Islamabad. The investigation revealed a horrifying sequence of events. Noor had been held captive, tortured with brass knuckles, and ultimately beheaded. The gruesome nature of the crime, perpetrated by a scion of one of Pakistan's wealthiest families, sparked immediate and widespread condemnation.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered with the Kohsar police station, on the same day, and Zahir Jaffer was arrested from the scene of the crime. The subsequent investigation uncovered harrowing details, including evidence of Noor's repeated attempts to escape her captor.

The trial of Zahir Jaffer and his alleged accomplices, began in October 2021. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including CCTV footage, forensic reports, and witness testimonies, to build a strong case against the primary accused. Throughout the trial, Jaffer's defense team made several attempts to have him declared mentally unfit, a plea that was ultimately rejected by the courts.

On February 24, 2022, a sessions court in Islamabad delivered its verdict. Zahir Jaffer was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to death. He was also found guilty of rape and sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment. Two of his employees, a guard and a gardener, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for abetting the crime. Jaffer's parents, who were accused of attempting to cover up the murder, were acquitted.

Following the sessions court's verdict, both the prosecution and the convict filed appeals in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). In a significant development on March 13, 2023, the IHC not only upheld the death sentence for murder but also converted Jaffer's 25-year jail term for rape into a second death sentence, further underscoring the brutality of his crimes. The sentences of his two employees were also upheld.

The legal battle reached its final stage when Zahir Jaffer challenged the IHC's decision in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. After a series of hearings that were closely watched by the nation, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court delivered its final verdict on May 20, 2025.

The apex court upheld the death sentence handed down to Zahir Jaffer for the murder of Noor Muqaddam, bringing a long and arduous legal process to a close. However, the court converted the death sentence for rape back to life imprisonment. The sentences of the two co-accused employees were also taken into consideration, and they were ordered to be released, having served their time.

The final verdict was met with a sense of relief and vindication by Noor Muqaddam's family, civil society, and women's rights activists who had relentlessly campaigned for justice. The case is hailed as a significant victory against impunity and a testament to the resilience of those who fought for accountability in the face of a horrific crime that shook the conscience of a nation.