The Supreme Court dismissed on Thursday Zahir Jaffer’s plea for a review of its decision upholding his death sentence in one of Pakistan’s most high-profile cases of violence against women.
Jaffer was sentenced to death in February 2022 by a sessions court in Islamabad for the 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam, with subsequent appeals in the Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court ending in rulings that upheld the punishment.
Users on X breathed a sigh of collective relief upon hearing the news, calling it a positive development for women’s rights, safety and the rule of law in Pakistan.
Netizens said Jaffer’s sentence sets an example that could serve as deterrence for other acts of violence against women.
One person said though it won’t bring Mukadam back, the dismissal of the review plea closes an avenue for the criminal in “one of Pakistan’s most horrific cases” to escape accountability.
Another advised caution, saying this case was only a start and there was still a long way to go when it came to protecting Pakistan’s women against violence.
A few others were less optimistic, saying justice remained out of reach for people without means and societal influence.
One user said Mukadam’s case was resolved in four to five years owing to her father’s influence as a retired diplomat. Another cited the examples of Natasha Danish and Shahrukh Jatoi — two influential people who were accused of murder and then later pardoned by the victims’ families.
There was also discussion around Jaffer’s defence in the case. His legal team told the court he suffered from mental health issues , attempting to use that as a reason for the murder, something the courts rejected. One person said such tactics end up hurting people who actually do need help with their mental health and increase the stigma around it.
With Thursday’s decision, a presidential pardon under Article 45 of the Constitution is the only way Jaffer can be given clemency with a suspension or commutation of his death sentence.
