Zahir Jaffer expelled from courtroom second week in a row for disrupting trial proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Zahir Jaffer, the main accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, was expelled from a sessions courtroom in Islamabad on Wednesday after he ‘disrupted’ a trial hearing in which witnesses were being cross-examined, local media reported. 

Last week, police officers had to carry Jaffer out of the courtroom building after he used indecent language and misbehaved with the judge during a hearing.

Mukadam, 27, was found beheaded at Jaffer's house in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 neighborhood on July 20. The trial for her murder is one of the most closely watched in Pakistan's recent history, as the case has sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention unlike any other recent crime against women. Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene on the day of the murder and has been in custody since. 

The trial in the case began last month.

“During today's hearing, which was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani, all accused in the case were presented in the court,” Dawn reported. “Zahir started speaking during the cross-examination of Muhammad Imran, in-charge of the National Forensic Crime Agency, and called upon Judge Rabbani to bring about a compromise in the case. ‘Are you listening to me?’ he asked the judge.”

The judge ordered that Jaffer be removed from the courtroom along with his father Zakir Jaffer and three household staff, who are also indicted in the case. The four were later admitted back while Jaffer was kept in a holding cell.

Last week, the sessions court in Islamabad issued a written order warning Jaffer that he would be banned from appearing in court during the trial if he continued to misbehave.

"Zahir Zakir created fuss in the court and tried to interfere in the proceedings. He is directed to mend his attitude, otherwise his attendance will be exempted from the court and he will be taken on video link from jail,” the court order said. 

Last Wednesday, during a hearing in which district and sessions Judge Rabbani was hearing prosecution witnesses, Jaffer repeatedly interrupted the proceedings and used indecent language, witnesses present in the courtroom told Arab News. 

“These proceedings are being prolonged because they don’t have any authority,” Jaffer said at one point to the judge. It was unclear whom he was referring to as having no authority.

At another point he said: “I haven’t seen such incompetent people in my life. This proceeding is fake. I am giving you a chance that you should hang me, but even then this case is being delayed which shows that all of you are just puppets.”

The suspect also repeatedly called out to a person he identified only by one name, Hamza, saying: “Where are you Hamza? My life is on stake. I should be allowed to speak.” 

Jaffer’s interruptions continued for about half an hour after which Rabbani ordered police officials to remove the accused from the courtroom. As police surrounded him, Jaffer, who was handcuffed and in chains, fought back and reportedly banged his head repeatedly against a wall. Police had to grab his arms and legs and carry him out of the courtroom. Video footage of the scene was shown widely on Pakistani news channels. 

At his indictment hearing last month, Jaffer admitted he had committed the “crime” but appealed to the judge to release him from jail and put him under house arrest.

Others charged in the case include Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, their three household staff, Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad and Jameel, and six workers from Therapy Works, a counselling centre from where Jaffer had received certification to become a therapist and where he had been receiving treatment in the weeks leading up to the murder.

Last Thursday, Islamabad police registered a criminal case against Jaffer for using "abusive language" inside the courtroom and attempting suicide on the court premises. 

“We have registered a criminal case against Zahir Jaffer and a separate charge-sheet for it will be presented in the court,” Assistant Sub-Inspector Waqas Ahmed told Arab News at the Margalla police station. “He has not only used abusive language in the courtroom, but also tried to commit suicide by smashing his head against the wall.”