Parents of Zahir Jaffer, the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam were presented in a local court in Islamabad on Sunday along with the other two suspects.
Azaz Syed a local reporter who was present in the court while speaking to The Current shared details about the latest development in Noor Mukadam’s case. Zahir Jaffer’s father Zakir told Azaz that he condemns the incident and he paid his condolences to the family of the girl saying that he knows Noor’s family personally and he is saddened over what has happened and that he wants to see justice.
Azaz further told that the Lawyer of Zahir’s parents told the court that they were in Karachi when they came to know about the ‘crime’.
Azaz also told The Current that the public prosecutor told the court that Zahir called his parents before the murder and told them that Noor has refused to marry him.
Islamabad police, on Saturday night, arrested the parents of alleged killer Zahir Jaffer, Zaqir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee for hiding evidence and abetting the murder. The court gave the police a two-day remand for the parents of Zahir Jaffer and they are to remain in police custody.
Meanwhile, TherapyWorks, the counselling company which came to Zahir’s aid on his father’s request, has been sealed in Islamabad by the police.
While being taken to court in police custody, alleged killer Zahir Jaffer’s father, Zakir Jaffer spoke to the reporters present. He said, “I condemn the murder, it is a heinous crime, I sympathize with the Mukadam family its a very tragic incident and I would personally like to make a request to Mr Mukadam because I know him personally, and my family knew the girl socially as well…it’s a very heinous crime and I would like justice to prevail”.
When the same reporter asked him about how he found about about the incident, Zakir replied, “that is a very long story.”
The mother of Zahir Jaffer, Asmat Adamjee did not speak to the media present and walked with the police with her face fully covered.
Asmat Adamjee being taken to court in police custody
The court gave the police a two-day remand for the parents of Zahir Jaffer and they are to remain in police custody.
Ex-computer intelligence consultant at the United States (US) National Security Agency (NSA) Edward Snowden has said that smartphones are “worse than a spy in your pockets”, reports Geo News.
Snowden urged governments to impose a global delay on the international spyware trade or face a world in which no mobile phone is safe from state-sponsored hackers, reported The Guardian.
In the wake of the revelations about Israeli NSO Group, whose software Pegasus was used to hack mobile phones for surveillance, Snowden said the consortium’s findings illustrated “how commercial malware had made it possible for repressive regimes to place vastly more people under the most invasive types of surveillance”.
“If you don’t do anything to stop the sale of this technology, it’s not just going to be 50,000 targets. It’s going to be 50 million targets, and it’s going to happen much more quickly than any of us expect,” he warned.
Snowden said commercial malware such as Pegasus was so powerful that ordinary people could in effect do nothing to stop it.
Asked how people could protect themselves, he said: “What can people do to protect themselves from nuclear weapons?”
“There are certain industries, certain sectors, from which there is no protection, and that’s why we try to limit the proliferation of these technologies. We don’t allow a commercial market in nuclear weapons.”
In a leaked audio of Therapy Works, a counselling centre, it was revealed that Zahir Jaffer was a therapist for students.
Despite being suspended from the programme, Zahir was an observer for level 5, which is an advanced level where students are allowed to take clients, but was not practically involved in the programme.
Zahir was, however, allowed to take students as clients.
As per the leaked audio, some time back, Zahir had a fight with his mother while he was in the United Kingdom (UK) and the police had to be called. He had a history of hard drinking and drug use. Despite his history, Therapy Works admitted it was wrong on their part to enroll him into the programme, level 3.
Other social media accounts are stating that Tahir Ahmed stated that when Zahir’s brother got married earlier this year, Zahir was enraged about not being the center of attention. After which he started behaving very erratically.
Tahir recommended that Zahir see someone for therapy but Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer refused.
Senior Journalist Salman Masood writes, “Zahir detained Noor against her will for almost two days at his house in an upscale Islamabad neighbourhood. He forced her to make a phone call to her parents and lie about being in Lahore when family and friends started searching for her. Her efforts to escape remained unsuccessful.”
A guard at the house saw Noor Mukadam trying to escape as she jumped off the balcony. When she jumped off the balcony, she landed on the Air Conditioner Unit ( Condenser). Zahir too jumped off from the balcony and grabbed her. The guard tried to help her but Zahir grabbed her by her hair and took her back into her room and locked the door. There was no other way inside the room, reports Geo News.
Therapy Works sent their people after Zahir’s father had called for help. The people who came to the scene went up the balcony using a ladder. One of the men got into the balcony and Zahir came running with a knife to stab him. He saw what Zahir had done to Noor. The Therapy Works team grabbed Zahir and tied him up.
Meanwhile, a neighbour had gone to the Koshar Police station to inform them about the happenings at Zahir’s residency. By the time the police reached, the team of Therapy Works had tied up Zahir.
Noor was murdered and then beheaded. SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman said, “When we arrested him, he was sound and in his senses. He may have had a past history [of taking drugs] but at least at this time he was completely in his senses.”
The SSP also stated that while initially, the police had stated that Noor had been shot, there was now no evidence of her being shot. They did find a firearm at the residence but there was no proof that the gun was used on Noor.
SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman, said that the statements of the victim’s parents, and the suspect’s father, besides two security guards, have been recorded.
The interior ministry has decided to put the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam on the Exit Control List (ECL) at the request of the Islamabad Police.
Tahir Ahmed is also under investigation for Therapy Work’s alleged role in the incident.
The interior ministry has decided to put the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam on the Exit Control List (ECL) at the request of the Islamabad Police, reports The News.
The police chief also directed the team to obtain his criminal history, if any, from England and the United States.
Briefing IGP Islamabad about the progress of the case, SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman, said that the statements of the victim’s parents, and the suspect’s father, besides two security guards, have been recorded.
A forensic team has also provided evidence after their investigation, the police chief was told.
The IGP said that all the evidence obtained from the incident “should be forensic”, adding that the Therapy Works team should also be approached as part of the probe.
Noor’s father had earlier said that he has served the country as an ambassador and only seeks justice. He wants justice from Prime Minister Imran Khan and the courts.
Noor Mukadam, 27, was beheaded. Her post-mortem report states that she was stabbed several times and then beheaded in Islamabad.
The incident took place on July 20 in F-7/4 in Islamabad, reportedly at the residence of Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested for Noor’s murder.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has once again come under fire for making sexist and violent remarks against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.
Taking a jibe at Maryam, Gandapur said: “You [Maryam] have spent Rs80 million [tax payers] money on surgery. I will unmask your real face before the public by removing [cosmetic surgery].”
“We will slap you in the face so much that your real face will be revealed to everyone,” Gandapur said.
This isn’t the first time Gandpur made such remarks. In November last year, Ali Amin Gandapur had claimed that Maryam Nawaz “owes her beauty to cosmetic surgeries performed at the expense of taxpayers”.
Speaking at a public gathering, the lawmaker went on a sexist tirade against the PML-N vice president. He said the PML-N leader became “beautiful” by spending tax money on her alleged plastic surgeries.
Twitterati reacted to Gandapur’s sexist and misogynist remarks.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “His [ Ali Amin Gandapur’s] words are not only violent but also deeply misogynist. Just imagine that people with this mindset have been given the responsibility to govern a country of 220 million people.”
Disgusted by the shameful language Ali Amin Gandapur has used against Maryam Nawaz. His words are not only violent but also deeply mysoginist. Just imagine that people with this mindset have been given the responsibility to govern a country of 220 million people.
“Govt’s claims of its ‘commitment’ to women’s human rights and equality will ring hollow What’s worse is that Gandapur is a serial offender and has made such statements before as well with impunity,” says lawyer Reema Omer.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan openly making sexist, inflammatory comments about Maryam Nawaz before a charged crowd using violent language
Almost didn’t believe the reports and had to watch the speech myself
Social Activist Jibran Nasir tweeted, “Prime Minister Imran Khan endorses it & encourages it. About time everyone stops making excuses for PM that he isn’t surrounded by the right people or he is ill-advised.”
IK endorses it & encourages it. About time everyone stops making excuses for PM that he isnt surrounded by right people or he is ill advised. Those who don't wish to see are unfortunately cult worshippers just like those found in PMLN and PPP who see nothing wrong with leadership https://t.co/GTuwDPr7YX
A Twitter user tweeted, “What are the odds that this is sheer unfiltered hate against women?”
What are the odds that this is the energy of a domestic violence abuser and a rapist? What are the odds that this is sheer unfiltered hate against women? https://t.co/3GqoGiCTAI
Meanwhile, the official Twitter account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) shared a clip where lawmaker Maleeka Bokhari said, “The language used by Maryam Nawaz for the elected Prime Minister and PTI representatives is reprehensible.”
مریم نواز جو زبان منتخب وزیراعظم اور تحریک انصاف کے نمائندوں کیلئے استعمال کررہی ہیں وہ قابل مذمت ہے اور جو بیانیہ وہ پیش کررہی ہیں وہ بھی قابل مذمت ہے۔ ایسا نہیں ہوسکتا کہ آپ تنقید کریں اور پھر عورت کارڈ کھیلیں- @MalBokharipic.twitter.com/85mENp0rrN
“It is not possible for you [Maryam Nawaz] to criticise and then play the women’s card,” added Bokhari.
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul tweeted, “Rich of an infamous misogynist Shehbaz Sharif and his abusive deputies who falsely claim PTI encourages such an approach. The track record of the Sharif family is horrific in terms of attacks on women. & Maryam Safdar has actually promoted those who have engaged in openly abusing women!”
Rich of an infamous misogynist Shehbaz Sharif and his abusive deputies who falsely claim PTI encourages such an approach. Track record of Sharif family is horrific in terms of attacks on women. & Maryam Safdar has actually promoted those who have engaged in openly abusing women! pic.twitter.com/1uEa4Joknm
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that Pakistan has the lowest number of Covid deaths per million in the region.
“Covid deaths/million population in our region: Iran 1037, Nepal 326, India 301, Sri Lanka 186, Afghanistan 160, Bangladesh 113, Pakistan 102,” said Asad Umar in a tweet.
“Timely decisions, hard work, cooperation of people & blessings of Allah made this possible,” he added.
Asad Umar also urged people to take precautionary measures. “Risk is not over. Follow sop’s & vaccinate.”
Covid deaths/million population in our region: Iran 1037, Nepal 326, India 301, Sri Lanka 186, Afghanistan 160, Bangladesh 113, Pakistan 102. Timely decisions, hard work, cooperation of people & blessings of Allah made this possible. Risk is not over. Follow sop's & vaccinate.
During Noor Mukadam’s funeral, her mother leaned on her daughter’s face and said, “I leave it in Allah’s hands, I leave it in Allah’s hands.” She kept repeating these words as she broke down during the last rights of her daughter, reportsBBCUrdu.
According to the report, the scenes at Noor Mukadam’s funeral were the same as when someone leaves the world. There were tents on the porch, outside. Men and women were in the drawing-room.
Noor’s mother was told much later what really transpired and how Noor died. She would ask if she [Noor Mukadam] had been shot, and everyone would say yes.
Noor’s father, former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, met everyone with great patience but tears began to roll down his eyes as he met the people who had come to pay their condolences to the family.
The friends who were present at the funeral were devasted and some of them told the BBC that Noor would have called for help many times but she was a soft-spoken person and her voice might not have been audible to others.
Shaukat Mukadam, while talking to the media earlier in the day said, “Zahir Jaffer is a person of a criminal mindset.”
“This is not a case where the suspect escaped. He was caught and caught with a weapon,” Mukadam said.
“My daughter was a very sweet and kind-hearted girl. Our family has been crying badly since yesterday,” he said.
“If such a person was employed as the director of a company, he is a registered therapist, his parents, too, must be made part of the investigation,” Mukadam said.
Mukadam said that he has served the country as an ambassador and only seeks justice. He wants justice from the prime minister and the courts.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill went to pay his condolences at Noor Mukadam’s residence. Talking to the media, he urged the Opposition to pay their condolences to the family of the deceased.
He said, “I will urge our courts to not take Noor Mukadam’s case as a usual case and fulfill all the legal procedures in the case.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkITMmA1hp8
“Every Pakistan is extremely saddened by the murder of Noor. Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked Inspector General Islamabad Qazi Jameel-ur-Rehman not to make any concessions while probing the murder of Noor Mukadam,” added Gill.
Gill said that the government is with the family of Noor and justice will be served at all costs.
He said, “Noor can never be brought back, but what can be done is justice.”
Noor Mukadam, 27, was shot and then beheaded, her post mortem report states that she was stabbed several times and then beheaded in Islamabad.
The incident took place on July 20 in F-7/4 in Islamabad, reportedly at the residence of Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested for Noor’s murder.
Addressing an election rally in Kotli, Azad Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “Our ally, the one we considered our friend used to do drone attacks on our country. Drone attacks used to occur in Pakistan both during the tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, Nawaz Sharif, and former President, Asif Ali Zardari’s time.
They both used to condemn the attacks but deep with they had permitted for the attacks to occur. Why doesn’t any drone attack happen in my [PM Imran Khan] term.”
“You should not blame the United States for the drone attacks, our own people were involved,” added the prime minister.
PM Khan asked the people to question the Opposition as to what did they do for the betterment of their people while they were in power
“Both PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) both had five years in power, how much did these two parties advocate for the people of Kashmir internationally?” questioned PM Khan.
Khan reiterated that ever since the Indian Prime Miniter Narendra Modi’s party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power, the people of Kashmir have gone through the most turmoil.
“The ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) being practiced by Modi is that of the Nazism, ‘borrowed by the German Nazi’,” said the PM.
“India has the strongest lobby with Israel and our Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) was busy inviting Modi to weddings for his own benefit.
Earlier during the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan had rubbished talk of him “wishing to turn Azad Jammu and Kashmir” into a new province of Pakistan.
“I do not know where all this talk has sprung from,” he said, dismissing any notion of such an idea.
“But what I want to make clear now, is that in 1948, there were two United Nations Security Council resolutions which granted the people of Kashmir the right to decide their own future. According to the UN resolutions, the people had to decide whether they want to join Hindustan or Pakistan.
“I want to clarify to all of you today. InshaAllah, a day will come, when all the sacrifices made by the people of Kashmir, will not be wasted. God will grant you that right. There will be a referendum, InshaAllah.
