ONE of the most closely watched murder trials in Pakistan’s recent history has ended and, given the circumstances of the gruesome case, the verdict is largely what many hoped for.

A court in Islamabad yesterday handed down the death penalty to Zahir Jaffer, the principal accused in the murder of Noor Mukadam, and sentenced two co-defendants, both members of his household staff, to 10 years in prison.

All others, including Zahir’s parents and six Therapy Works employees, were acquitted. The case had kept the nation in thrall ever since 27-year-old Noor was found slain and decapitated in the capital city on July 20 at the perpetrator’s residence.

Read more: Court sentences Zahir Jaffer to death for murder of Noor Mukadam

The CCTV videos that surfaced later offered incontrovertible, and heartbreaking, evidence of how Noor had tried to repeatedly flee the house but was dragged back inside each time by Zahir, with the gardener and watchman — who were convicted yesterday — helping to send the woman to her death.

During the course of the investigation and trial several issues surfaced in the public discourse, including violence against women, the criminal justice system’s capacity to actually deliver justice and, most regrettably, the character of the victim.

While the defence has the right to adopt whatever strategy it deems fit, how unfortunate it is that casting aspersions on a woman’s character is seen as the easiest way to weaken the prosecution’s case, by subliminally suggesting that the victim’s own actions had contributed to her terrible fate.

Such is the predicament of all women in this patriarchal society, regardless of socioeconomic background. Despicable calumny of this kind ought to be disallowed in a courtroom, for it has no relevance to cases of gender-based violence.

Also read: Zahir Jaffer confesses to killing Noor, claim police

The fact that Noor’s grief-stricken father had to repeatedly vouch for her character in front of TV cameras to counter what was being said in the courtroom should make everyone’s head hang in shame.

Fortunately, the judge ruled on the quality of the evidence laid before him, which the police had done well to gather despite reported pressure on different fronts. While Dawn does not support the death penalty, no matter what the crime, Noor’s murder is certainly deserving of exemplary punishment.

It must be said, however, that the comparable social status of both families may have had a bearing on the outcome. In a country where murder is compoundable, and an offence against the individual rather than the state, killers with money and clout can, and do, walk free.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2022