“The murder of Noor Mukadam was a horrific crime and those responsible must receive punishment consistent with the gravity of the crime, but without resorting to the death penalty,” said Amnesty International’s South Asia campaigner, Rimmel Mohydin.
The statement further added that “institutional reform — and not the death penalty — is needed to tackle the endemic problem of violence against women in Pakistan.”
Amnesty’s South Asia campaigner said, “Convictions have been dismally low for victims of gender-based violence in Pakistan, making today’s guilty verdict all the more significant. This conviction underscores the importance of ensuring that the criminal justice system responds effectively at all levels.”
“However, far-reaching procedural and institutional reform — and not the death penalty — is needed to tackle the endemic problem of violence against women in Pakistan,” she said in the statement.
“If the authorities want to take meaningful steps to ensure justice for women and girls, they must avoid using the death penalty as a ‘quick fix’ and commit to ensuring the criminal justice system prevents and responds to such crimes effectively at every stage.”
A sessions court in Islamabad yesterday sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death for the murder of Noor Mukadam. The co-accused staff members at Zahir’s house who aided in keeping Noor in Zahir’s house, Iftikhar and Jameel, were sentenced to 10 years in jail. All other accused were acquitted, including Zahir’s parents and Therapy Works staff.
