July 29, 2021: An Islamabad court has extended the physical remand of Zahir Jaffer, who is accused of killing Noor Makdam and beheading her.

The accused was brought to the court under heavy security after his physical remand was completed on Wednesday. Lawyer Sajid Cheema informed the court that the police had obtained close circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident and they needed to take Zahir to Lahore for forensic analysis.

The lawyer said he could take a picture of Zahir for forensic analysis. He added that police had recovered weapons and a mobile phone from the accused and there was no need to extend the physical remand.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Shah Khawar, said that they were required to take Zahir to Lahore and would not have asked for physical remand if the photo was enough for the forensic analysis. The state counsel said that they took all suspects in the Usman Mirza case to Lahore as well. He contended that it would help to determine whether any editing has been done in the video.

He reiterated to extend the physical remand of the suspect until completion of the forensic analysis of the CCTV footage.

Following the conclusion of the arguments, the court reserved its decision and later announced the extension of physical remand. Meanwhile, Islamabad police have urged the media to refrain from broadcasting or publishing unverified news on the Noor Muqadam case as such actions could affect the investigation process.

In a statement issued Wednesday, a police spokesman said some television channels and social media outlets were spreading unconfirmed news about the case. He added that no US official had met with Zahir Zakir or any police officer while the accused’s parents were being dealt with in accordance with the law.

The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has recommended that the names of the parents of accused Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Muqaddam case be included in the Provisional National Identity List (PNIL) to prevent them from fleeing abroad.

A meeting of the standing committee was held at Parliament House on Wednesday during which the panel was briefed by Islamabad Police. Committee members recommended that Zahir’s parents be included in the exit control list.

However, Federal Minister for Human Rights Shirin Mazari said the process could take time.

She said that the investigation agency would first send a summary to the federal cabinet which would allow doing so. Therefore, as an instant measure, the minister said they would recommend including the names in PNIL.

Investigating SSP Ata-ur-Rehman informed that the therapy workers had reached the spot before the police and Zahir stabbed one of them with a dagger. He added that the victim had undergone surgery and his statement had not yet been recorded.

On this, Mushahid Hussain Syed asked who informed the officials of the therapy center about this incident. The minister replied that the suspect’s mother had been informed of the incident by a domestic worker and had called the therapy center and asked the workers to return home. He added that five staff members reached Zahir’s house and one of them informed the police.

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