"Merciless killer deserves no pardon," SC issues written verdict in Noor Mukadam murder case

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a 13-page detailed verdict reaffirming the death sentence of Zahir Jaffar in the Noor Mukadam murder case.

The judgment sets a notable precedent by recognizing the validity of digital evidence under the "Silent Witness" doctrine, even in the absence of direct eyewitnesses.

According to the verdict, authenticated video footage can be admitted as evidence and may even stand alone in proving a crime. The court cited that CCTV recordings, DVRs, and hard disks are acceptable forms of evidence, provided they meet reliability standards.

In this case, no alterations were found in the video recordings, and the DNA evidence confirmed the sexual assault. Additionally, the murder weapon was found to have the victim's blood on it.

The Supreme Court described Zahir Jaffar as a “brutal murderer” undeserving of any sympathy and upheld the decisions of both lower courts.

However, while his death sentence for the murder charge remains, his life sentence for rape has been converted to life imprisonment. He has also been acquitted of kidnapping charges.

Read more: Justice for Noor Mukadam: SC Upholds Ruling against Zahir Jaffar

The verdict noted that Zahir Jaffar could not provide any justification for Noor Mukadam’s presence at his residence, reinforcing the conviction.

The court asserted that digital evidence now qualifies as primary evidence if it meets the established criteria, eliminating the need for further verification.

Co-accused Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan had their convictions upheld, but the court showed leniency by ordering their release after time served. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi is expected to add a supplementary note to the verdict.