The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued its detailed verdict in the Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding the death sentence of convict Zahir Jaffer while establishing a landmark precedent for the admissibility of digital evidence. The apex court confirmed that authenticated video footage can serve as primary evidence even in the absence of eyewitnesses.
The 13-page judgment, authored by a three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, ruled that CCTV and other digital recordings qualify as admissible evidence under the “silent witness” doctrine, provided the footage is verified as authentic and unaltered. This doctrine, previously applied in American courts, is now formally accepted in Pakistan’s legal system.
ALso Read: Supreme Court Upholds Zahir Jaffer’s Death Sentence in Noor Mukadam Case
The court retained Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence for murder and life imprisonment for rape, while granting partial relief by overturning his convictions for kidnapping and extortion. It also ordered the release of co-accused Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan, noting their sentences had already been served.
Significantly, the ruling affirms that digital evidence alone—when reliable—can substantiate a criminal conviction. The bench highlighted that the CCTV footage in this case showed Zahir assaulting Noor Mukadam, and that DNA and forensic tests corroborated the charges. The verdict emphasized the brutality of the crime, calling the convict “a ruthless killer not deserving of any sympathy.”
Noor Mukadam’s murder in July 2021 sparked nationwide protests and became a symbol of resistance against gender-based violence. The Supreme Court’s ruling not only brings closure to the case but also sets a legal milestone by strengthening the role of technology in Pakistan’s judicial system.
