Court extends Mukaddam murder case suspect Zahir Jaffer’s remand for 2 days

Islamabad-Duty Magistrate Sohaib Bilal Ranja on Saturday granted the investigators of Islamabad police two-day extension in physical remand of suspect Zahir Zakir Jaffer in Noor Mukaddam murder case. 

The court ordered police investigators to reproduce the accused on July 26 for further proceedings in the case. Officials of Police Station (PS) Kohsar had arrested Zahir Zakir Jaffer on July 20, 2021 on charges of beheading Noor Mukaddam, the daughter of ex-Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Ali Mukaddam, during an illegal detention at his house located in Sector F-7/4 apparently over a break up. A First Information Report (FIR) under section 302 was also lodged with PS Kohsar against the complaint of father of the deceased.  

According to details, the investigators of Homicide Investigation Unit (HIU) of PS Kohsar produced the alleged killer Zahir Zakir Jaffer before Duty Magistrate Sohaib Bilal Ranjha upon the completion of his three-day physical remand. Sajid Cheema Advocate, the prosecutor, argued before the court that the police investigators have recovered a blunt weapon, pistol, bullets and a knuckle punch from the crime scene. He added cell phones of accused and deceased Noor Mukaddam are yet to be recovered by the investigators. The prosecutor had prayed to the court to grant 11-day extension in the remand of the accused.

Opposing the comments of the prosecutor, the accused Zahir Zakir Jaffer interacted with the judge saying police investigators were misleading the court as they had already seized his and Noor’s mobiles from the crime scene. He requested the court to send him to Adiala Jail on judicial remand of 14 days.

Shah Khawar Advocate, who appeared before court on behalf of deceased Noor, had urged the court for an 11-day physical remand. He mentioned that maximum physical remand of 14 days was possible in the case and court had already given three days physical remand of the accused in high profile murder case. After completion of the arguments of all the parties, Duty Magistrate Sohaib Bilal Ranjha rejected the plea of police and granted two-day extension in physical remand of alleged killer of Noor Mukaddam.

Earlier, journalists and the father of victim Noor had to face a lot of troubles in the premises of court as police investigators had produced the accused very late. Upon his arrival in the court escorted by police, the accused Zahir Zakir Jaffer, during an interaction with media persons, said he is not a Pakistani citizen but an American national and his lawyer would share details with the media. He, however, claimed he had not yet hired any lawyer to contest his case.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/25-Jul-2021/court-extends-mukaddam-murder-case-suspect-zahir-jaffer-s-remand-for-2-days