The 30-year-old Pakistani-American had tortured Noor with a knuckleduster and then beheaded her with a sharp weapon at his home in July last year after she refused his marriage proposal
Pakistani-American Zahir Jaffer (centre), convicted to murder his girlfriend, Noor Mukadam in Islamabad. AFP
A Pakistani tycoon’s son has been sentenced to death for raping and beheading his girlfriend in Islamabad last year in a case that sparked outcry in Pakistan.
The case shocked the nation and prompted widespread protests calling for greater rights for women in a country where violence against them has been described as “endemic”.
Here’s all we know about the case.
The case
Pakistani-American Zahir Jaffer, 30, attacked Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat at his home in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 area in July last year after she refused his marriage proposal.
News agency AFP reports that Zahir Jaffer had tortured Noor with a knuckleduster and then used a “sharp-edged weapon” to behead her.
AFP further stated that Noor had made repeated attempts to escape the sprawling mansion but was blocked by two members of staff.
The murder trial against Zahir Jaffer formally began on 20 October and four months later, on 24 February, the Islamabad district court delivered its judgment.
Judge Atta Rabbani said, “The main accused has been awarded the death sentence.”
The court also held two household employees of Jaffer, a guard and a gardener, guilty and sentenced them to 10 years for abetting the murder.
The court heard they had blocked the young woman’s attempts to leave the luxury mansion.
Jaffer’s parents, who had faced charges in connection with covering up the killing, were acquitted by the court.
Reactions to the case
Noor Mukadam’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, welcomed the verdict.
“This case is for all the daughters of Pakistan,” he told reporters. “The society and media came to our side, the entire nation and the world was on our side.”
The Guadian reported prosecution lawyer Shah Khawar as saying, “Justice has been served, and today’s verdict will empower Pakistani women at large. We will challenge the acquittal of his parents at the higher court.”
People across Pakistan also lauded the court’s decision and took to Twitter to share reactions.