Justice Hashim Kakar, leading the three-member bench, questioned the need for the adjournment. “We only adjourn cases in this court if a lawyer or judge passes away,” he stated. Meanwhile, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi inquired whether anyone had raised the issue of mental illness in Jaffer, acknowledging that it had not received sufficient attention. Additionally, Justice Kakar highlighted that the defence could present the argument without the need for a new application.
The Pakistan Supreme Court reserved its decision until May 19, 2025, on the appeal filed by Zahir Jaffer, who is challenging his death penalty in the Noor Mukadam murder case. The court granted more time for the submission of documents that lawyer Salman Safdar believes could significantly impact the case.
Safdar argued that Jaffer suffers from a mental illness, which the trial and high courts overlooked. He pointed out that no medical board was formed to assess Jaffer’s mental health, which contradicts previous Supreme Court rulings.
Read more: Noor Mukadam Case: Was Zakir Jaffer Spotted Bribing?
Prosecutor Shah Khawar opposed the adjournment, but Justice Najafi directed him to wait for the defense’s submission. Both parties are likely preparing for the next hearing.
Noor Mukadam, 27, was murdered on July 20, 2021, at Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad. Police apprehended Jaffer at the scene and registered an FIR on the same day.
Jaffer’s attorneys had earlier asked for a medical checkup to ascertain his mental condition, claiming drug-induced psychosis. The court turned down the request, describing it as a eleventh-hour ploy to escape responsibility. The court added that the defense brought up the issue at the wrong time since the trial was almost over.
The case is still making headlines, with the hearing scheduled for May 19, 2025.
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