Zahir Jaffer, the main accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, came up with ‘new evidence’ on Monday to prove his innocence.
As the hearing is nearing the conclusion, Zahir’s lawyer submitted the new evidence, including a USB storage device, an air ticket to the United States and a police report against him for interrupting court proceedings sometime ago, in a court in the federal capital Islamabad.
Noor, 27 years old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was beheaded in Islamabad’s F-7/4 Sector in July last year.
The grisly murder sparked public outrage across Pakistan and drew media attention unlike any other crime against women in the country. Zahir was arrested at the crime scene, his residence, on the day of the murder and has been in jail since.
Among the others arrested in the Noor Mukadam murder case were Zahir’s parents Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, their household staff Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad and Jameel and six employees of Therapy Works.
Therapy Works is a counselling centre from where Zahir had received certification to become a therapist and where he had been receiving treatment before Noor’s murder.
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The trial for the case is now in the concluding stage at Islamabad’s district court. Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani has been hearing the Noor Mukadam murder case.
At Monday’s hearing, Zahir’s lawyer submitted the USB storage device, air ticket and a copy of the police report against him for interrupting court proceedings and attacking police officials on the court premises.
At the last hearing, Zahir’s lawyer Usman Gill had told the court that Noor had organised a “drug party” at Zahir’s house and invited her friends as well. He had asked the court to allow him to present evidence of it. The USB apparently contains footage from the party.
Zahir had earlier said he was scheduled to fly to the United States on July 19, but cancelled his flight on Noor’s insistence. His lawyer has now submitted a copy of his confirmed ticket in the court.
Islamabad Police had registered a case against Zahir in November last year for assaulting policemen on the court premises. His lawyers are now presenting this case as evidence to prove that Zahir is not mentally fit to stand the trial. However, a jail doctor’s report has already declared him mentally and physically fit after a thorough examination.
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Zahir’s lawyer will explain all the material submitted in the court at the upcoming hearings in a bid to prove his client’s innocence.
The court will resume hearing the case on February 16.