The Supreme Court of Pakistan has postponed the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case to May 19, following a mutual agreement by the prosecution and defence.
A three-member bench, led by Justice Hashim Kakar and including Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi, heard the case on Tuesday. Defence lawyer Salman Safdar requested more time to submit additional documents, arguing they could influence the verdict significantly.
Safdar reiterated that Jaffer suffers from mental illness—a claim allegedly ignored by the trial and high courts. He noted that no official medical board had ever been constituted to assess Jaffer’s mental condition and cited prior Supreme Court rulings that he claimed were overlooked.
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Justice Kakar questioned the need for a delay, remarking, “In our court, cases are only delayed when a judge or lawyer dies,” while expressing concern over unnecessary postponements. Justice Najafi asked whether mental illness had been raised previously, to which Safdar replied it had not received due attention. Justice Kakar noted the argument could still be presented without a fresh application.
Despite prosecutor Shah Khawar’s opposition to the delay, Justice Najafi advised him to wait until the defence formally submits its request. The court instructed both sides to return fully prepared for the May 19 hearing.
Noor Mukadam, 27, was found brutally murdered—her body decapitated—at Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad’s Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021. Jaffer was arrested at the scene and an FIR was registered the same day.
