Remand extended for main accused in murder of former Pakistan envoy’s daughter

Islamabad: A judicial magistrate of Islamabad has extended the physical remand of Zahir Jaffer, the main accused in the murder and beheading of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, daughter of Pakistan’s former ambassador Shaukat Ali Mukadam, till August 2.

Jaffer was presented before the court amid beefed up security. During the hearing, police prosecutor told Judicial Magistrate Shoaib Akhter that after going through the 40-hour long CCTV footage, some new facts and evidence had surfaced for which the police needed to investigate the accused further.

He requested the court to extend the physical remand of the accused. Noor’s father, Shaukat Ali Mukkadam, was present in court along with his lawyer Shah Khawar.

Jaffer’s counsel, however, opposed the prosecutor’s stance saying the suspect’s polygraph test and other forensic examinations had already been conducted.

It was decided in the previous hearing that there won’t be another extension in his physical remand, he pleaded adding it was the fourth time Jaffer has been remanded into police custody.

However, the court setting aside the defence counsel’s arguments granted physical remand of the accused until Monday, August 2.

Though the district & sessions courts in Islamabad are going on summer vacation from August 1, yet it has been decided that Jaffer and his parents’ case will be held as per schedule.

Jaffer’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee, will appear before the court on August 4, for the hearing of their bail plea.

Police not to share CCTV footage of crime scene

Earlier, the Islamabad police decided not to release the CCTV footage from Zahir Jaffer’s house which reportedly showed Noor Mukadam trying to escape from the house where she was held captive.

DIG Operations of Islamabad Afzaal Ahmed Kauser said at a press conference that the case was being investigated and the police could not formally share any material because of privacy issues.

Polygraph test conducted

A day earlier, Jaffer underwent a couple of tests, including polygraph (lie detector test), at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), Lahore as investigators wanted to verify his statements and evidence collected in connection with the murder.

Besides, samples taken from the victim’s body during the autopsy were also submitted to the agency for tests, according to the police sources.

A team of Islamabad police, including investigators, had taken the alleged killer to the PFSA where he underwent the tests on Friday, said an Islamabad police officer who is linked with the investigation.

Polygraph test (lie detector test) of the accused was conducted to verify his statements given to the police during interrogation, he said, adding it included confession of the crime before police, details of the event and other disclosures which led to recovery of the pieces of evidence.

Besides, a videograph test of the accused was also conducted there, the officer said, adding it was conducted to match and verify the accused with the videos recovered by the investigators in which he was allegedly chasing the victim and dragging her inside the house.