ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police on Tuesday issued a clarification following outrage over the testimony of the investigation officer (IO) during court proceedings of the Noor Mukadam murder case a day earlier, which gave an impression of giving prime suspect a clean chit.
Monday’s proceedings provoked outrage on social media after it emerged that the investigation officer had admitted that primary accused Zahir Jaffer’s pants did not have any bloodstains. He also informed a sessions court that Zahir’s fingerprints were not found on a pistol recovered from the crime scene, and that no eyewitness statements had been recorded during the investigation.
According to the statement, Inspector General of Police (IG) Islamabad Ahsan Younas on Tuesday received a briefing on progress in Noor Mukadam murder case involving prime suspect Zahir Jaffar. The meeting was attended by DIG Operation, Chief Prosecutor, SSP Investigation, SP Investigation, DSP Legal and IO of the case.
During the meeting, IG Islamabad was informed that the defense counsel’s cross-examination of the investigation officer was limited to “yes” or “no” responses. “The answers must corroborate with the facts of the case file,” it said, stressing that the proceedings had been “misinterpreted.”
The police clarified that while the investigation officer had said “no” to a question about bloodstains on Zahir’s pants, it was fact that the accused’s shirt had been stained with the victim’s blood. Similarly, it added, that a knife had not contained any of Zahir’s fingerprints, but DNA testing had confirmed that Noor’s blood was on its blade.
On a question posed by the defense over whether a photogrammetry test was conducted to identify Noor, the police said that this was done to identify the accused and the victim’s identity did not need to be verified.
“The detailed report of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) is yet to be read on the next hearing, which contains comprehensive forensic evidence, sufficient for the conviction of the accused,” it stressed.
According to the police, the PFSA report confirms the following facts:
- Rape was committed with Noor before she was killed; DNA has been confirmed.
- Noor attempted to save her life prior to being killed and Zahir’s DNA has been recovered from her fingernails.
- The shirt worn by, and recovered from, Zahir was stained with Noor Mukadam’s blood and the DNA has been verified.
- Noor Mukadam was killed with a swiss knife recovered from the scene, and her blood was found on the blood and handle.
- Noor Mukadam was also attacked with a “knuckle punch” recovered from the crime scene and her blood was found on it.
“These are very strong pieces of forensic evidence and investigation team is committed to seek justice for Noor Mukadam,” it said, adding that the IGP had directed all officers to follow the case in the best possible manner.
The court is set to resume hearings into the case from tomorrow (Wednesday). Zahir, the primary accused in the murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, was formally charged for the crime by an Islamabad court in October 2021.
