SC upholds two-month deadline to conclude Noor Mukadam trial

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has rejected a request by prime accused Zahir Jaffer’s father Zakir Jaffer to overrule the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Sept 29 verdict calling for conclusion of the Noor Mukadam case trial within eight weeks.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial, who headed an apex court bench, noted in a three-page verdict that, “The counsel for the petitioner (Zakir Jaffer) has urged that the time period of eight weeks specified in the paragraph 14 of the impugned judgement dated 23.09.2021 “to conclude the trial expeditiously preferably within eight weeks from the framing of charge” deprives the petitioner of a fair opportunity to lead his defence.”

Also Read: Accused moves IHC against indictment in Noor Mukadam murder case

“We do not agree with that submission, which is conjectural and without reference to facts,” observed the bench.

“However, it goes without saying that the petitioners have a right of presenting their defence before the learned trial court and in this respect the learned trial court shall consider and decide their pleas in accordance with law as envisaged in Article 10A of the Constitution,” ruled the top court.

Also Read: Zahir Jaffer, others indicted in Noor Mukadam murder case

The apex court granted bail to Asmat Zakir, the mother of the prime accused, subject to submission of a Rs1 million surety bond. The court directed the federal authorities to place her name on the Exit Control List (ECL).