Court refuses to set up board to assess Zahir Jaffer’s mental health – Journal

ISLAMABAD: Another district and session judge rejected a request, made by the main defendant in the Noor Mukadam murder case, asking for a medical commission to be formed to check the mental health of the alleged murderer, Zahir Jaffer.

The request was filed on Wednesday by Zahir’s attorney, attorney Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem.

He argued in court that the accused suffered from a schizoaffective disorder, caused by drug-induced psychosis, and that this was his condition at the time of his arrest on July 20, 2021, the unfortunate day he was arrested. murdered Mrs. Mukadam. .

The lawyer asked the court to authorize the establishment of a medical commission to determine the mental state of the accused, in the interests of justice.

Prosecutor claims main defendant was in a managerial position in his father’s company at the time of Noor Mukadam’s murder

The petition stated that the judge himself had observed the attitude, conduct and state of mind of the accused during his appearances in court.

In previous court appearances Zahir Jaffer’s behavior had become disruptive and, during a hearing in November, he was forcibly removed by police after hurling obscenities at the judge.

Following the explosion, the judge ordered the police to take him away, calling it a “tragedy”.

However, lawyer Shah Khawar, representing the victim’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, argued that the main defendant did not take this position during his arrest and subsequent appearances before judicial magistrates.

He pointed out that the request for a mental health check was made at a time when the court was about to conclude his trial and requested that the request be dismissed.

Attorney General Hassan Abbas also argued that the demand was not sustainable. He pointed out that before his arrest, in addition to advising students at a private school, Zahir had held a senior management position in his father’s company.

District and Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani initially reserved judgment on the claim and subsequently dismissed it.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the court recorded a witness statement and adjourned further proceedings until January 15.

Noor Mukadam, 27, the daughter of former diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, was found murdered and beheaded at Zahir Jaffer’s residence in the upscale F-7/4 neighborhood of Islamabad on July 20.

He was arrested at the scene of the crime and has been in police custody ever since.

At his indictment hearing in October, Zahir admitted to having committed the “crime”, but asked the judge to release him from prison and place him under house arrest.

The transcript of CCTV footage showing the events leading up to Mukadam’s murder was submitted by the prosecution last month. He said the victim jumped from the first floor of the main accused’s house but was prevented by staff from leaving the scene.

Other people charged in this case include Jaffer’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee; three of their domestic workers, Iftikhar, Jan Mohammad and Jameel; and six employees of Therapyworks – the counseling center where Zahir Jaffer had received certification as a therapist and where he had received treatment in the weeks leading up to the murder.

Posted in Dawn, January 6, 2022


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