Back-story: On the 21st of July 2021, an outcry for justice arose, from regular citizens to elite class citizens of Pakistan. A gruesome murder became the ‘hot-topic,’ for the political & ordinary commentators of the country. Noor Mukaddam, daughter of Pakistan’s former ambassador, Shaukat Mukaddam, was allegedly murdered by her long known ‘friend,’ Zahir Jaffer, a popular name in Islamabad’s elite society. Being 27 years old at the time of the murder, Noor was a lively, jubilant daughter of Pakistan’s former diplomat, Shaukat Mukaddam. The dual national alleged murderer of Noor, Zahir Jaffer is the son of an influential & wealthy businessman, Zakir Jaffer , and Asmat Adamjee , was immediately arrested by the police. Nonetheless, the deportee of the UK tried contacting the US embassy in his bid to fade away from jail time.
Why it matters: The alleged murderer, is known as ‘psychopath,’ by the citizens of Islamabad and several claim that he was clinically diagnosed. According to his guard, he was deemed as a person that faces mental health problems, Zahir Jaffer, is currently behind bars but is allegedly trying his options to get out of the jail with various tactics. During one of the hearings, Zahir Jaffer’s guard, who was present at Zahir’s house during the time of the crime, had said, “Zahir was not mentally stable, he was on drugs, and had often done drugs.” The statement made by Zahir Jaffer’s guard highlighted a vital factor in the case, as suggested by a court reporter, Shahid Saqlain. Shahid Saqlain, in his YouTube video, had said, “ The statement by the household staff, has highlighted a vital & turning factor of the case, which is that Zahir after this statement may, or could get lesser jail time as if proven that at the time of murder Zahir was under the influence, that may conflict the court proceedings . “ What you need to know: Zahir Jaffer’s mother, who was allegedly in direct contact with his ‘murderer’ son, had been granted bail by the court based on being a woman. In comparison, she was also permitted to live at the same house where the murder happened. After CCTV footage is being aired by different media outlets for their TRPs, Asmat Adamjee is still residing at F-7/4, Islamabad. The vital role of the Therapy Works employees highlighted in various reports is that the employees ‘could have’ ‘would have,’ saved the murder from happening and called the police in time to have probably stopped the murder in the first place. Lastly, the sources close to the case and Aurat March have said that “ The justice has to be delivered within the time promised by the court, otherwise the nation would face nationwide protests .” The bigger picture: The Noor Mukaddam case has highlighted the country’s taboo flaws, topics that now need to be discussed in the mainstream, plus every household. The forbidden topics of drugs, mental health, the persona of elite getting away with everything. Talking about this, reminded this scribe of a thing said by the SACM Hasaan Khawar during one of the press briefings, when asked about whether the justice for everyone is equal or not, “(while laughing it off) You reporters know better,” what the minister here was highlighting is that ‘money,’ tends to overshadow the important things of the society. The justice for Noor has turned into a nationwide protest, and as Shaukat Mukaddam had said, “Noor Mukaddam has all her life highlighted the important everyday problems that Pakistani women face in the society.”
The bottom-line: Lastly, the alleged murderer Zahir Zakir Jaffer has multiple times tried to manipulate the court proceedings with his devious tactics. Sometimes, the alleged killer Zahir Jaffer attempted to distract the court by asking him if he wanted a bribe or by abusing the court proceedings and trying his best to hinder the court proceedings. At the same time, a few days ago, the CCTV footage of the murder at the Zahir house was given to the defendant’s counsel. Still, allegedly it was ‘leaked,’ and many mainstreams, along with renowned journalists, tweeted the video, causing distress to the already grieving family. However, each and every sane individual of the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan,’ has urged the government and the judiciary to get justice for the Mukaddam family, allowing closure for the family. Whereas, the nation has also demanded that the nation make an example out of the alleged killer, Zahir Zakir Jaffer, and the country wants swift justice to be served.
