Zahir Jaffer Appeals Death Sentence, Citing Errors in Evidence Appreciation

Zahir Jaffer, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Noor Mukadam in Islamabad in 2021, has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, arguing that his conviction was based on an “inaccurate appreciation of evidence” and that the trial court and high court failed to identify fundamental flaws in the First Information Report (FIR). Jaffer’s lawyer also contended that the media trial and constant pressure during the investigation and trial stages influenced the verdict. The petition claimed that Jaffer’s trial was conducted in violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair trial. The appeal also argued that Jaffer’s mental illness was not properly investigated despite strong evidence indicating his psychological issues. The petition claimed that the trial court proceeded with the recording of evidence in Jaffer’s absence due to his psychological disorder and that the IHC and session court could not identify fundamental flaws in the FIR.