ISLAMABAD:(TheCOWNews Digital)The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a detailed written verdict upholding the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer in the brutal murder case of Noor Mukadam, declaring him a “merciless killer” undeserving of any sympathy.
The 13-page judgment reaffirms the decisions of both the trial court and Islamabad High Court, dismissing the convict’s appeals and reinforcing that the evidence presented — particularly digital footage — meets the highest standards of admissibility and reliability under Pakistani and international law.
The apex court emphasized that under the “Silent Witness” theory, audio-visual evidence such as video footage and photographs can be admitted as primary evidence, even in the absence of eyewitness testimony. “Authentic footage, if acquired through a reliable system, becomes self-proving evidence,” the court ruled, citing precedents from both domestic and American jurisprudence.
The court highlighted a past bank robbery case where CCTV footage was accepted without any human witness to authenticate it. Drawing from global legal standards, particularly those in the U.S., the judgment noted that courts have increasingly recognized such digital evidence as credible and sufficient for conviction, provided it is free from tampering.
In this high-profile case, the Supreme Court asserted that the CCTV footage from the day of the incident, along with the DVR and hard disk evidence, was fully admissible. “No signs of alteration were found, and the footage clearly identifies the accused,” the bench observed. The DNA report confirmed the rape, and the murder weapon bore the victim’s blood, strengthening the prosecution’s case.
“The convict Zahir Jaffer is the ruthless killer of Noor Mukadam,” the court said bluntly, dismissing any plea for leniency. “He failed to offer any credible explanation for her presence in his house, and the evidence presented is overwhelming.” The judgment reaffirmed that digital evidence has now become fundamental in modern legal systems and should be treated as primary testimony when it meets legal thresholds.
The court upheld the death penalty for murder but reduced Zahir Jaffer’s sentence for rape from the death penalty to life imprisonment. He was acquitted of the kidnapping charge but found guilty of illegally detaining Noor Mukadam.
The co-accused, Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan, had their convictions sustained but were granted leniency due to time already served. The Supreme Court ordered their release after taking into account the duration of their imprisonment.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, a member of the bench, is expected to add a supplementary note to the judgment, offering further insights on the case.
The decision comes nearly four years after the gruesome murder that shocked the nation. Noor Mukadam, daughter of a former diplomat, was tortured and murdered at Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad in July 2021. The case sparked nationwide protests and ignited urgent calls for justice system reforms, especially concerning gender-based violence.
The Supreme Court’s strong stance on the admissibility of digital evidence marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s legal evolution. Legal experts believe this ruling will influence future cases involving CCTV and digital forensics, setting a precedent for how courts treat technological evidence in the absence of human witnesses.
As the final legal chapter closes in this tragic case, the Supreme Court’s judgment sends a clear message: digital evidence, when credible and unaltered,
