Pakistani man convicted of beheading ex-girlfriend seeks review of death sentence

Zahir Jaffer, a Pakistani-American national convicted of the brutal 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam in Islamabad, has filed a review petition in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, challenging the top court’s recent decision to uphold his death sentence.

The new petition argues that the May 20 verdict by the court was issued in haste and failed to properly consider Jaffer’s mental health. It also claims there are strong legal grounds to revisit the decision.

As part of the filing, Jaffer has replaced his previous attorney, Salman Safdar, with Khawaja Haris. His legal team has also submitted a separate request for the court to establish a medical board to evaluate Jaffer’s mental condition. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on that request.

Noor Mukadam case

Jaffer, the son of a wealthy Pakistani industrialist, was found guilty of killing 27-year-old Mukadam, a former diplomat’s daughter, at his family’s mansion in the upscale F-7 neighborhood of Islamabad.

Court proceedings revealed that he held her captive, tortured her with brass knuckles, and beheaded her after she refused his marriage proposal.

The case shocked the country and sparked protests across Pakistan, with many seeing it as a landmark test of whether the justice system could hold powerful individuals accountable for gender-based violence.

Jaffer was sentenced to death in February 2022 by a trial court. He also received 25 years in prison for rape, along with fines. His defense argued throughout the trial and appeals that he was mentally unfit to stand trial—a claim that was rejected by multiple courts.

On May 20, Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld Jaffer’s death sentence for murder while reducing other penalties. His separate death sentence for rape was commuted to life imprisonment, and his 10-year sentence for abduction was reduced to one year.

At that hearing, the court dismissed arguments against key video evidence, including CCTV footage showing events leading up to the murder. Justice Hashim Kakar, who led the three-member bench, stated the footage had been verified and was not tampered with.

The court also emphasized that Noor Mukadam’s body being found inside Jaffer’s home was itself strong evidence.

Jaffer seeks presidential mercy

Despite the Supreme Court verdict, Jaffer’s legal team is pursuing parallel legal options. On July 20, jail authorities at Adiala Jail, where he is held on death row, confirmed that he had begun the process to file a mercy petition with the president of Pakistan.

Under Pakistani law, once all judicial appeals are exhausted, a condemned prisoner can request clemency from the country’s president. Before that petition can be filed, a medical evaluation is required. Jail officials have formally requested Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences to form medical boards for this purpose.

The clemency process can take several weeks or months and typically involves a thorough review by the president’s office. Factors such as mental health, chances of rehabilitation, and the wider public interest are often considered.