Noor Mukadam murder: Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence upheld in SC’s detailed verdict

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has released its detailed written verdict in Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding the death sentence of convict Zahir Jaffer.

The judgment spans 13 pages and reiterates the court’s stance that Jaffer, who was found guilty of the brutal killing, is “a ruthless killer” and “not worthy of sympathy.”

According to the verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the rulings of both lower courts, terming them correct and unanimous. A key element of the court’s reasoning was based on the Silent Witness Theory—a legal principle that allows for video evidence to be accepted even in the absence of an eyewitness.

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The court noted, “Authentic footage can serve as self-sufficient evidence, and recorded video or images can be presented as testimony.”

The apex court stressed that footage obtained through a reliable system could be admissible on its own, citing a precedent from a bank robbery case where video footage was accepted without any eyewitness. It added that American courts have widely recognised the Silent Witness principle.

In Jaffer’s case, the court noted that CCTV footage, the DVR, and the hard disk were all admissible forms of evidence. The court stated that there was no indication of tampering in the video recordings, the identification of the accused was accurate, and the DNA report confirmed the rape.

The murder weapon was also found to have the victim’s blood on it.

The verdict observed, “The convict failed to provide any explanation for Noor’s presence. Digital evidence is now considered primary testimony. If CCTV footage meets the set standards, no further verification is necessary.”

Further, the court upheld Jaffer’s death sentence for murder but converted his sentence for rape into life imprisonment. He was acquitted of the abduction charge, while his sentence for unlawfully confining Noor was maintained.