ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the killer of Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former diplomat, would not escape justice on account of his social status or US nationality.
Mukadam was found beheaded at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 sector on July 20. Police have charged US national Zahir Jaffer for murder.
Jaffer was arrested on the day of the murder and has since been in police custody. His physical remand, which was to expire on Saturday, was extended after the prosecution asked for more time for police to investigate CCTV footage from the crime scene. He has now been moved to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand and will be presented again before a judicial magistrate on August 16.
“People say that the killer is from a powerful family and might escape,” Khan said during a live Q&A session with the nation on Sunday. “If someone thinks he is a dual national and has US citizenship and will escape, let me tell you all that no one will be spared.”
The grisly murder has sent shockwaves across the country, stirring outrage over femicides and demands for justice. Many activists and social media users have also raised concerns that Jaffer might get a lenient sentence because of his wealthy background and US nationality.
In a July 27 Twitter post, the US Embassy in Pakistan clarified that US citizens in a foreign country were subject to local laws and that the embassy could check on their well-being and provide a list of lawyers if they were arrested abroad but couldn’t provide legal advice, participate in court proceedings or effect their release.
In a foreign country, U.S. citizens are subject to that country’s laws. When Americans are arrested abroad, the Embassy can check on their well-being and provide a list of lawyers, but cannot provide legal advice, participate in court proceedings or effect their release.
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) July 27, 2021
