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In a strong rebuttal to recently circulated claims, friends of Noor Mukadam issued a statement Thursday categorically denying that she ever lived with Zahir Jaffer, her convicted murderer. The clarification came via the Justice for Noor Instagram account following controversial remarks made in a Supreme Court judgment.
“Noor Mukadam did not live with Zahir Jaffer,” her friends stated emphatically, adding that they’ve had to repeat this fact “for the millionth time.” They pointedly asked, “Does visiting someone’s house and being held hostage by them count as ‘living with them’?”
The statement comes in response to an additional note in the Supreme Court judgment authored by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, which was uploaded to the court’s website Thursday. Justice Najafi controversially characterized the case as “a direct result of a vice spreading in the upper society which we know as ‘living relationship’,” suggesting the murder stemmed from an improper living arrangement.
Mukadam, who was 27 years old when her body was discovered at Jaffer’s Islamabad residence in July 2021, was brutally murdered in a case that shocked Pakistani society and sparked nationwide discussions about gender-based violence. In May, a three-judge Supreme Court bench upheld the death sentence awarded to Jaffer, who had initially been convicted by an Islamabad trial court in 2022.
Justice Najafi’s remarks described such relationships as a “direct revolt against Almighty Allah” and suggested young people should note the “horrible consequences” of such arrangements. These comments have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including the general public and the Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights, which termed the comments “ridiculous.”
Mukadam’s family has consistently denied any suggestion of a live-in relationship between Noor and Jaffer. In their Instagram post, her friends expressed deep frustration, stating, “Having to repeat this again and again is not just frustrating – it is painful and deeply disrespectful.”
The post pointedly questioned the credibility of the source of these claims—Jaffer himself—noting his pattern of deception throughout the legal proceedings: “The same man who claimed he didn’t speak Urdu (a lie), gave contradictory statements throughout interrogation, tried to blame everyone but himself, including his own staff, and committed the heinous acts of kidnapping, torturing, raping and murdering Noor.”
Mukadam’s friends raised important questions about public perception, asking why people were “quick to believe a murderer’s words over a victim’s dignity and her family’s truth.”
The statement highlighted the damaging impact of such misinformation, describing it as “cruel” and detailing its harmful effects: distortion of truth, victim-blaming, re-traumatization of the family, and the reduction of Mukadam’s humanity to “rumors and narratives she cannot defend herself against.”
The case has become emblematic of the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence in Pakistan, where nearly 1,000 women are killed annually in so-called “honor killings,” according to human rights groups. The Mukadam murder case gained unprecedented national attention due to both the brutality of the crime and the socioeconomic status of those involved, with both the victim and perpetrator coming from influential families.
Legal experts have noted that Justice Najafi’s additional comments, while part of the court record, do not form the binding part of the judgment that upheld Jaffer’s death sentence. Nevertheless, the remarks have reignited debate about judicial perspectives on gender relations and victim dignity in Pakistan’s legal system.
For Mukadam’s family and friends, the continued need to defend her reputation represents an additional burden of grief in their ongoing pursuit of justice.
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9 Comments
This is a tragic case that deserves to be handled with care and sensitivity. Noor Mukadam’s friends are right to push back against any attempts to diminish her humanity or imply blame. The focus should remain on seeking justice for this young woman’s horrific murder.
I appreciate the friends’ firm stance in denying the inaccurate claims about Noor Mukadam’s living situation. It’s important to respect the facts and avoid perpetuating harmful assumptions, especially in a case involving such a devastating loss of life.
Absolutely, the focus should be on honoring Noor Mukadam’s memory and ensuring justice is served, not speculating about details that don’t seem to be accurate.
I’m glad to see Noor Mukadam’s friends forcefully countering the inaccurate claims about her living situation. Preserving the dignity of victims should be a top priority in high-profile cases like this.
This case highlights the need for a thorough, impartial investigation that centers the victim’s experience and doesn’t make unfounded judgements. I’m glad Noor Mukadam’s friends are speaking up to correct the record and protect her dignity.
You’re right, it’s crucial that the justice system handles this case with the utmost care and respect for the victim. Noor Mukadam and her loved ones deserve that much.
The friends’ statement is a powerful rejection of attempts to diminish Noor Mukadam’s humanity. In a case like this, maintaining the focus on the victim’s experience and seeking true accountability is paramount.
This is a heartbreaking situation, and I commend Noor Mukadam’s friends for standing up for the truth and protecting her memory. Their statement is a important reminder to avoid making assumptions and to center the victim’s experience.
The friends’ rejection of the ‘living relationship’ claims is a necessary pushback against victim-blaming narratives. Noor Mukadam deserves to have her story told accurately and with respect for her humanity.