SC adjourns Zahir Jaffer appeal in Noor Mukadam case till May 19

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19.

A three-member bench, led by Justice Hashim Kakar and comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, heard the high-profile case.

The decision was announced following the consensus from both parties.

Defence counsel Salman Safdar and prosecution lawyer Shah Khawar were present in court during the proceedings.

Safdar requested a postponement, citing the need to submit additional documents. Justice Kakar, however, expressed displeasure over delays, remarking: “Why should we grant an adjournment if you’re already present in court?”

He maintained that Jaffer suffers from mental illness, a defence he claimed had been overlooked by both the trial and high courts.

The judge further criticised unnecessary delays in the judicial system, saying: “In our court, a case is only delayed if the judge or a lawyer dies.” He questioned the consequences of overturning a sentence after someone had spent 20 years on death row, asking what a freed convict might think in such a scenario.

Despite the defence counsel’s request, the court maintained that a decision would be made once the application was submitted. Justice Najafi also intervened, advising Khawar to formally respond only after the request had been submitted.

The hearing was adjourned until May 19, with instructions to both legal teams to come fully prepared.