Pakistan | Zahir Jaffer given death sentence for raping and killing diplomat's daughter

An American national born to one of the richest families in Pakistan has been awarded a death sentence on Thursday, February 24, after he tortured and murdered a diplomat's daughter at his home in Islamabad on July 20, 2021.

Zahir Jaffer reportedly carried out the crime against Noor Muqaddam after she rejected his marriage proposal.

The 30-year-old felon has also been given 25 years of jail time for kidnapping and rape.

As per a Daily Mail report, security cameras installed at Jaffer’s home have shown the 27-year-old’s attempts to escape her kidnapper. But she was blocked by Zahir's two staff members – Mohammad Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan – who have also been punished.

Both the men have been given ten years behind bars. However, the killer’s parents – Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee – were not sentenced as they were not convicted of trying to cover up their son’s deeds.

The camera footage showed one of the men dragging Noor by her arm through a door before taking her back into the house. A sessions court in Islamabad was told Zahir used a knuckleduster to torture her before sexually assaulting her and beheading her head with a “sharp-edged weapon”.

Judge Atta Rabbani at the Islamabad district court said, “The main accused has been awarded the death sentence.”

Noor's father Shaukat Mukadam – a former ambassador to South Korea and Kazakhstan – praised the court for the verdict as he said, “An exemplary punishment has been given to the primary accused. Everyone was praying [for justice]. The whole nation and world were with us.” Amnesty International South Asia campaigner Rimmel Mohydin added: “Convictions have been dismally low for victims... making today's guilty verdict all the more significant.”

A recent report by Human Rights Watch on Pakistan has mentioned that “Violence against women and girls—including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage—is endemic throughout Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, the sentencing of Zahir has attracted a lot of attention online with many people expressing their disappointment over his parents’ acquittal.

A journalist Sahar Habib Ghazi tweeted, “His parents being acquitted is not what justice looks like. They knew Zahir Jaffer’s violent history better than anyone, they knew he had her and after she was killed, they didn’t call the police, they called in a cover up. Now they can 100% focus on their son’s appeal.”

Sania Ashiq, a Pakistani politician, commented, “Zahir Jaffer's death sentence will bring some confidence back into the system for women across Pakistan. Hanging Noor Mukadam's murderer is a start, working together to make all girls safe can be the real justice for her.”

A user said, “Zahir Jaffer given death penalty is justice but 10 years punishment for house staff & 0 for Zahir’s parent is gross injustice.”

Source: meaww.com, Divya Kishore, February 25, 2022

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