Documents violence · sexual violence · torture — written to inform, not to shock.
Illustrative
Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old Pakistani-Jordanian woman and the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was killed at a residence in the Sector F-7/4 neighborhood of Islamabad, Pakistan, on 20 July 2021. She had been held at the residence for about two days, tortured, raped, and killed by beheading. Zahir Jaffer, a 27-year-old dual Pakistani-American citizen, was arrested at the scene.
According to a timeline reported by Geo News, Jaffer booked a one-way flight to New York on 7 July 2021 and arranged a taxi to the airport ahead of a 3:50 a.m. flight on 19 July. That evening, Jaffer called Noor, who left her family's home in Islamabad's Naval Anchorage neighborhood at 9:05 p.m. and arrived at Jaffer's residence around 10 p.m. At 2:15 a.m., Jaffer and Noor set out for the airport by taxi, but Jaffer told the driver to turn back because they were running too late, and they returned to his residence at 2:35 a.m. The next morning, Noor's father and mother repeatedly tried to reach her by text, call, and message; at 10:43 a.m. Noor sent her mother a voice recording, her last communication before her death. Jaffer then called Noor's mother and told her Noor was not at his house. Noor tried to escape by jumping from a balcony but was chased by Jaffer and returned to him by a house security guard. She was tortured and killed at the residence between about 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on 20 July.
A First Information Report was filed against Jaffer under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and he was arrested at the scene. Four days later, Jaffer's parents and household staff were arrested on suspicion of complicity and concealing evidence. Police also examined the role of Therapy Works, a counselling center where Jaffer worked. On 15 August 2021, police said fingerprint and DNA evidence confirmed Jaffer's involvement in the killing.
On 24 February 2022, an Islamabad additional sessions court convicted Jaffer of murder, sentencing him to death, and of rape, sentencing him to 25 years' imprisonment, and ordered him to pay Rs. 0.5 million in compensation to Noor's family. Jaffer's watchman, Muhammad Iftikhar, and gardener, Muhammad Jan, were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for abetting the crime. The court acquitted Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, the family's cook, Jamil, and employees of Therapy Works, finding no evidence against them, and rejected a defense argument that Jaffer should be acquitted on grounds of mental illness.
Noor's father appealed to increase the sentences and to challenge the acquittals, while Jaffer, Iftikhar, and Jan appealed separately for reduced sentences. On 13 March 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld the original sentences and the acquittals and upgraded Jaffer's sentence for rape to death. Jaffer then appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and appeared before the Court on 19 May 2025. On 20 May 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Jaffer's death sentence for murder, converted his death sentence for rape to life imprisonment, and reduced his existing 10-year sentence for abduction to one year. The Court also ruled that Iftikhar and Jan had served sufficient time and should be released, and upheld the compensation order.
The killing drew widespread condemnation in Pakistan and renewed public attention to violence against women, including the hashtag #JusticeForNoor on social media and vigils held by Pakistani communities abroad. Jaffer's father's family and his mother's family each issued statements condemning the killing and voicing support for the legal process. The U.S. embassy in Islamabad said that, as an American citizen arrested abroad, Jaffer remained subject to Pakistani law.
Zahir Jaffer books a one-way flight to New York, departing 19 July.
2021-07-18
Jaffer calls Noor in the evening; she leaves her family's home in Islamabad's Naval Anchorage neighborhood at 9:05 p.m. and arrives at Jaffer's residence in Sector F-7/4 around 10 p.m.
2021-07-19
At 2:15 a.m., Jaffer and Noor set out for the airport by taxi; Jaffer tells the driver to turn back because they are running too late, and they return to his residence at 2:35 a.m.
2021-07-20
Noor's family repeatedly tries to reach her through the morning; at 10:43 a.m. she sends her mother a voice recording, her last communication. Jaffer calls her mother and falsely says Noor is not at his house. Noor tries to escape by jumping from a balcony but is chased by Jaffer and returned to him by a house security guard. Between about 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Jaffer tortures and kills Noor at his residence. He is arrested at the scene, and a First Information Report is filed against him under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
2021-07-24
Jaffer's parents and household staff are arrested on suspicion of complicity and concealing evidence.
2021-08-15
Police say fingerprint and DNA evidence confirms Jaffer's involvement in the killing.
2022-02-24
An Islamabad additional sessions court convicts Jaffer of murder (sentenced to death) and rape (sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment), and orders him to pay Rs. 0.5 million in compensation to Noor's family. Guards Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan are each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for abetting the crime. The court acquits Jaffer's parents, the family cook, and Therapy Works employees, and rejects a defense argument that Jaffer should be acquitted on grounds of mental illness.
2022-03-12
Noor's father appeals to increase the sentences and challenge the acquittals; Jaffer, Iftikhar, and Jan appeal separately for reduced sentences.
2022-09-14
The Islamabad High Court hears the appeals.
2023-03-13
The Islamabad High Court upholds the original sentences and acquittals and upgrades Jaffer's sentence for rape to death.
2023-04-12
Jaffer appeals the High Court's verdict to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
2025-05-19
Jaffer appears before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
2025-05-20
The Supreme Court upholds Jaffer's death sentence for murder, converts his death sentence for rape to life imprisonment, reduces his existing 10-year sentence for abduction to one year, rules that Iftikhar and Jan have served sufficient time and should be released, and upholds the compensation order.
Best coverage
VIDEO
Coffeehouse Crime / 25 min
Wealthy Magnate to Despicable Killer… | The Case of Noor Mukadam
People
Jamil
ACQUITTED
The Jaffer family's cook. Acquitted at trial in February 2022 for lack of evidence, an acquittal upheld on appeal in 2023.
citation on file
Zakir Jaffer
ACQUITTED
Zahir Jaffer's father. Arrested on suspicion of complicity and concealing evidence; acquitted at trial in February 2022 for lack of evidence, an acquittal upheld on appeal in 2023.
citation on file
Noor Mukadam
VICTIM
A 27-year-old Pakistani-Jordanian woman, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat. She was killed at Zahir Jaffer's residence in Islamabad on 20 July 2021 after being held for about two days, tortured, and raped.
citation on file
Muhammad Iftikhar
CONVICTED
Jaffer's watchman/guard; convicted of abetting the murder and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2022. In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled he had served sufficient time and ordered his release.
citation on file
Asmat Adamjee
ACQUITTED
Zahir Jaffer's mother. Arrested on suspicion of complicity and concealing evidence; acquitted at trial in February 2022 for lack of evidence, an acquittal upheld on appeal in 2023.
citation on file
Muhammad Jan
CONVICTED
Jaffer's gardener; convicted of abetting the murder and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2022. In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled he had served sufficient time and ordered his release.
citation on file
Zahir Jaffer
CONVICTED
Convicted of Noor Mukadam's murder by an Islamabad additional sessions court in February 2022 and sentenced to death; the death sentence for murder was upheld by the Islamabad High Court in 2023 and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2025. Also convicted of rape (initially 25 years' imprisonment, upgraded to death by the High Court in 2023, then converted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in 2025) and of abduction (10-year sentence reduced to one year by the Supreme Court).
Noor Mukadam, 27, was tortured, raped, and killed at a residence in Islamabad, Pakistan, in July 2021. Zahir Jaffer was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death, a verdict upheld by Pakistan's Supreme Court in 2025.
Where did the murder happen?
Sector F-7/4, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Who was convicted?
Muhammad Iftikhar (Jaffer's watchman/guard; convicted of abetting the murder and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2022. In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled he had served sufficient time and ordered his release.), Muhammad Jan (Jaffer's gardener; convicted of abetting the murder and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2022. In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled he had served sufficient time and ordered his release.), and Zahir Jaffer (Convicted of Noor Mukadam's murder by an Islamabad additional sessions court in February 2022 and sentenced to death; the death sentence for murder was upheld by the Islamabad High Court in 2023 and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2025. Also convicted of rape (initially 25 years' imprisonment, upgraded to death by the High Court in 2023, then converted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in 2025) and of abduction (10-year sentence reduced to one year by the Supreme Court).).
