The high-profile murder trial is expected to begin tomorrow.
Pakistan has seen several cases of harassment and violence against women in 2021, each equally horrifying. One, however, stood out for its brutal brutality and shook the nation’s conscience: the gruesome murder of Noor Muqadam.
On July 20, Noor, the 27-year-old daughter of former ambassador Shaukat Mukadam, was found the killing At a residence in Islamabad. At the time, police said he was “murdered” after being shot.
As horrific details of the killing began to emerge, Pakistanis protested online and in person, demanding #JusticeforNoor.
With high-profile murder trial Be expected Starting yesterday, let’s take a look at how the matter unfolded and what the police investigation revealed:
July 21: Zaheer Jaffer arrested
The police arrested Zaheer Zakir Jafar, son of a prominent businessman, for his alleged involvement in the murder and obtained three days of physical custody.
a First Information Report (FIR) A case was registered a day earlier, naming Zaheer and others under section 302 (planned murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code on a complaint by Noor’s father.
In the FIR, Shaukat said that the police took him to Zaheer’s house where he came to know that his daughter had been brutally murdered with a sharp weapon and beheaded.
He has sought maximum punishment under the law against Zaheer for the alleged murder of his daughter.
July 23: Investigators arrive in US, UK for criminal records
As people posted about Zaheer’s alleged violent tendencies on social media in the past, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Ataur Rehman said He wrote to the relevant authorities to obtain Zaheer’s criminal record “to contact the US and the UK to verify information about his involvement in cases of sexual assault and rape in the UK, which led to his deportation from the country”. it was done”.
July 24: Physical remand extended for 2 days
The investigating officer during the hearing informed A local court said that the police have recovered a pistol, knife and porbandar from the accused after taking him into custody. The officer said that Zaheer had tortured Noor with knuckles before beheading him.
The court extended Zaheer’s remand for two days.
July 25: Police arrests Zaheer’s parents, house staff
Expanding the scope of the investigation, the police said that the FIR contains four more sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, mainly related to abetment and suppression of evidence and Arrested Zaheer’s parents, as well as the family’s guards.
Meanwhile, the capital administration sealed the office of Therapy Works – where Zaheer reportedly worked as a counsellor.
July 26: Zaheer confesses to killing Noori
Police claimed that Zaheer confessed for the offense and his statement was being recorded. The remand of the accused has been extended by two more days.
July 27: Police recovered mobile phones
investigating officer said Mobile phones of both Zaheer and Noor along with other evidence were recovered from the former residence.
Zaheer’s parents, Zakir Jafar and Asmat Adamji, and the house staff were produced in the court after the end of their two-day physical remand. He was then sent to Adiala Jail for judicial remand.
The bail applications of all the four were filed.
July 28: Zaheer’s remand extended for 3 days
During the next hearing, the state prosecutor requested the court to grant three-day remand of the primary suspect as he was to be taken to Lahore for forensic analysis of the video along with the CCTV footage.
After hearing the arguments, the court Given Expansion.
Separately issued by the Jafar family Statement“We categorically condemn this atrocity and forever condemn Zaheer and his actions.”
July 30: Polygraph, other tests done
Zaheer had to Certain tests, including polygraphs, at Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), Lahore, to verify his statements and the evidence collected in connection with the murder.
The mobile phones of Zaheer and Noor were also sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to be unlocked for forensic examination and recovery of deleted data.
July 31: Two days extension in physical remand
a court extended guideline Zaheer has been remanded for two days after the prosecution sought more time to examine the “new details and characters” seen in the CCTV footage.
August 2: Zaheer sent to judicial custody for 14 days
A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad sent Zaheer was sent to judicial custody for 14 days after the prosecutor told the court that the police had completed their investigation regarding the suspect for now and they no longer required his physical custody.
August 5: Zaheer’s parents’ bail plea rejected
Zaheer’s parents filed bail application rejected, the court noted in its “provisional assessment” that the suspects “not only abetted but also made excessive efforts to destroy the evidence”.
A few days later, his judicial remand, along with his staff, was extended guideline for two more weeks.
August 14: DNA, fingerprints show involvement in murder
police Claimed That Zaheer’s DNA test and fingerprints done last month show his involvement in the murder.
He said the photogrammetry test conducted on a video in which Noor was seen trying to save his life and being chased by the accused confirmed that it was genuine.
August 15: Owner of Therapy Works, 5 employees arrested
a court sent Six officials of Therapy Works, including owner Tahir Zahoor, in day-long physical custody after police were arrested on charges of “hiding evidence”.
August 23: All 6 people granted bail
A week after their arrest, all six officers were granted bail Also directed to deposit a bond of five lakh rupees each.
In another development, the judicial custody of Zaheer’s parents and employees has been extended till September 6.
The investigation was progressing slowly as investigators failed To submit the challan to the court even though the legal time limit expires about a week ago.
August 26: Noor’s father moves court against bail
Noor’s father Shaukat Mukadam, Presented A petition in the Islamabad High Court, challenging the grant of bail to six employees, including the owner of the therapy works.
September 1: Zaheer Jaffer’s father seeks help from Therapy Works
During the investigation it was revealed That Zaheer informed his father on 20 July about what he had done to the victim, and in response, the suspect’s father contacted Therapy Works, seeking his help in getting his son out of the house.
Officials said the suspect’s father asked the Therapy Works staff to transfer him to his clinic and declare that he was a patient as it would strengthen his defense.
Separately, owner of Therapy Works Presented An application in a local court for registration of a criminal case against Zaheer for assaulting and injuring a member of his team.
September 4: Zaheer was an alcoholic, not insane: Therapy Works CEO
Tahir Zahoor Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Therapy Works, said in a press conference, said Noor’s alleged killer Zaheer was an alcoholic but not insane.
The CEO said that Zaheer had come to Therapy Works in 2013 to take training in physiotherapy. At that time, he showed no signs of any disease, he said.
September 9: Police presents challan
police Presented Challan in a sessions court in Islamabad. Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani said the challan copies would be distributed in the next hearing on September 23 after all the suspects are present.
The court also extended the judicial custody of Zaheer, his parents and their three domestic staff till further hearing.
According to Invoices, Noor missed six life-saving opportunities due to the active connivance of Zaheer’s accomplices, the main accused in his murder.
“His life could have been saved if his comrades had acted otherwise,” it noted.
September 13: Noor’s friends protest outside IHC
When the Islamabad High Court considered the post-arrest bail pleas of Zaheer’s parents, Noor’s friends agreed to a against Outside the court premises and demanded justice.
September 17: Zaheer’s parents’ lawyer concludes arguments
Zaheer’s parents, Zakir Jafar and Asmat Adamji’s lawyer, concluded His arguments on his bail pleas in the murder case.
During the hearing, the judge remarked that it appeared that the police did not know how to connect the leads during interrogation.
Header Image: A file photo of Noor Mukadam, who was brutally killed on July 20. – photo courtesy change.org/File
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