Zahir Jaffer Seeks Presidential Mercy in Noor Mukadam Murder Case
Islamabad, July 20, 2025 —
Zahir Zakir Jaffer, the convicted murderer of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, is preparing to file a presidential mercy petition after the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld his death sentence in May. Jail authorities have since requested the formation of a medical and psychiatric board to assess his mental and physical health before the petition is formally submitted.
Jaffer, who was sentenced to death for premeditated murder under Section 302B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), had his conviction upheld by both the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and later by the Supreme Court, closing the door on any further legal appeals. He now seeks relief under Article 45 of the Constitution, which empowers the President of Pakistan to pardon or commute a sentence.
According to official letters obtained by Dawn.com, the superintendent of Adiala Jail sent two letters — dated July 8 and July 14 — to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), formally requesting a medical evaluation as a prerequisite for the mercy plea.
“Now the mercy petition of the subject cited Confirmed Condemned Prisoner has to be submitted before the Honourable President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. For that, the medical board and psychiatric board opinion is mandatory,” one of the letters stated.
In response, PIMS confirmed the formation of a two-member medical board, comprising Dr. Shafqat Nawaz from the psychiatry department and Dr. Amir Naveed from the neurology department. They are expected to visit Adiala Jail for the evaluation.
Background of the Case
Noor Mukadam, daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was brutally murdered in July 2021 at Zahir Jaffer’s residence in Islamabad. Investigations revealed she was tortured and beheaded, in a crime that shocked the nation and prompted widespread public outrage.
In addition to the death sentence, Zahir was also handed 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs200,000 under Section 376 of the PPC (rape charges).
The case was closely watched across Pakistan and led to renewed debates over the criminal justice system’s handling of gender-based violence.
Father’s Plea and Legal Proceedings
In October 2023, Noor’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, had appealed to the Supreme Court to expedite the trial, which had been pending for more than 18 months.
The Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year finally upheld the trial court’s verdict, confirming both the murder and rape convictions. With the court processes exhausted, Zahir’s legal team now turns to presidential clemency as the final option.
What Comes Next
Once the medical and psychiatric evaluations are completed, Zahir’s legal representatives are expected to formally submit the mercy petition to the President of Pakistan, who holds the discretion to pardon, commute, or remit the sentence under Article 45.
Legal experts note that such mercy petitions are rare and often unsuccessful in cases involving heinous crimes, especially when the judiciary has upheld the verdict at every level.
