ISLAMABAD: Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect in Noor Mukadam case, on Wednesday was removed from the court of Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani after he disrupted the proceedings again.

During cross examination of Mohammad Imran, in-charge of the National Forensic Crime Agency, Zahir interrupted and asked the judge to bring about a compromise in the case. He also shouted at the judge and asked him whether he was listening to him (Zahir). Following this, the judge ordered his removal from the court.

Last week, Judge Rabbani had ordered that Zahir be removed from court after he hurled obscenities at the judge and disrupted court proceedings. During Wednesday’s hearing, he repeated the same act.

Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered in a house in F-7 on July 20. The victim’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, got a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Zahir, who was arrested from the crime scene. Later, the other accused were also arrested, including his parents and household staff, for hiding the gruesome crime.

All accused in the case were present in the court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Hasan Ali recorded Imran’s statement, who said he had collected evidence from the room such as the murder knife, guns, magazines and cigarettes. He said Noor’s severed head was also found beside the window. The defence counsel also crossed examined Imran.

Another witness Sikandar Hayat from the Homicide Investigation Unit (HIU) of Islamabad police also recorded his statement.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the prosecution presented a transcript of the CCTV footage to the court.

In the transcript, time of the digital video recorder was 35 minutes ahead of Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

At 2:41am, the barefooted Noor can be seen running towards the main gate in panic and the watchman, Iftikhar, can be seen closing the gate to prevent her from leaving. Then, the alleged killer comes out of the room, grabs Noor and drags her inside despite her pleading with joined hands.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2021