SC Says Granted Bail To Zahir Jaffer's Mother Under Law Allowing Relief To Women Prisoners

SC Says Granted Bail To Zahir Jaffer's Mother Under Law Allowing Relief To Women Prisoners
The Supreme Court has released its written order on an application seeking bail for Asmat Adamjee, mother of prime accused Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case.

Asmat Adamjee was Monday granted bail by the top court after she moved the SC against rejection of her bail applications by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Zahir Jaffer's father Zakir Jaffer's bail application was however rejected.

The SC verdict said, "Asmat's bail plea is accepted under a sub-section of Section 497 [dealing with release on bail for individuals under the age of 16, women or sick] of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898."

As per the law, women can seek bail even if they are accused of committing a non-bailable offence.

The judgement further said that Asmat was ordered to submit bonds worth Rs1 million as surety against her bail. Further, the order said: "The bail shall be cancelled in case of misuse of release, tactics to delay the trial or influencing the witnesses of the case."

The three-page verdict was authored by Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

Earlier this week., family and friends of Noor Mukadam called on the judiciary to serve justice in the murder case, two days after prime accused Zahir Jaffer’s mother Asmat Adamjee was granted bail by the SC.

The protestors gathered in front of the Parliament House, seeking early resolution of the Noor Mukadam murder case. 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, was murdered on July 20 in Islamabad.

On Monday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Jaffer’s mother Asmat Adamjee who was arrested for allegedly facilitating the crime along with her husband and the prime accused’s father, Zakir Jaffer.
Noor’s brutal murder led to widespread outrage and the civil society called on the authorities to deliver justice in the case.