Zahir Jaffer’s parents’ judicial remand extended another 14 days over Noor Mukadam murder

In this undated photo, Zahir Jaffer (left) poses for a pictures with his parents in UK. (Photo courtesy: Social media)

• Mukadam was found beheaded in Islamabad on July 20 in a case that has sparked public outrage
• Bail pleas by Jaffer’s parents dismissed, court adds abetment, wiping evidence, other charges to case against them

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday extended till August 23 the judicial remand of the parents and two household staff members of Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect in last month’s grisly murder of Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat.
Mukadam was found beheaded at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 sector on July 20 in a case that has sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention unlike any other recent crime against women.
Jaffer was arrested on the day of the murder last month, on the eve of Eid Al-Aha, and remained in police custody on physical remand until last week, when he was sent on 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail in Islamabad’s twin city of Rawalpindi. He will next be presented before a judicial magistrate on August 16.
Jaffer’s parents — Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee — and two members of their household staff were also arrested by Islamabad police on July 24 for “hiding evidence and being complicit in the crime.” Last week, a sessions court dismissed separate bail pleas filed by Jaffer’s parents, adding abetment, concealment of evidence and a number of other charges to the case against them.
“The extension [in the judicial remand of Jaffer’s parents] was sought following the expiry of their previous two-week remand pronounced on July 27,” Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported. “After judicial magistrate Naseeruddin granted a fresh extension of remand today, the suspects are now set to remain in Adiala Jail for another 14 days.”
On Thursday, Additional Sessions Judge Sheikh Muhammad Sohail issued the written verdict against the bail pleas by Jaffer’s parents, saying they were guilty of abetting the main culprit: “The parents aided the principal accused through willful concealment of facts and intentionally omitted to timely report the matter to police, in consequence thereof they facilitated their son (principal accused) to commit murder of aforenamed victim, and thereafter attempted to cause disappearance of evidences.”
The investigation and arguments, in juxtaposition with other evidence on record, sufficiently connect the petitioners and the accused with the commission of alleged offenses, the verdict read
“It’s also noteworthy that on the day of sorrowful happening, the victim/deceased, most probably under fear of death from the hands of Zakir Jaffer (principal accused) made a desperate attempt to escape from the clutches of principal accused by jumping from the first floor of petitioner’s house, however, was caught and dragged in,” the judgment said.
“The present petitioners/accused, who were in constant contact with their son (principal accused), despite getting prompt information or aforementioned occurrence, sent personnel from a Rehabilitation Center instead of immediately reporting the matter to police, and as such, they not only caused abetment, but also made utmost effort to wipe off the evidence of the alleged crime.”
The judgment said police had added the charges of abetment, concealment, failure to share information, disappearing evidence and attempting to commit offenses punishable with imprisonment for life to the charges against Jaffer’s parents.