A sessions court has reserved the judgement on whether to form a medical board to assess the mental state of Zahir Jaffer, the prime accused in the Noor Mukadam murder trial. Judge Ata Rabbani conducted the hearing. The case has been adjourned until January 15.
The primary suspect's lawyer, Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem, argued in favor of a mental health assessment for his client.
Meanwhile, the victim's father and plaintiff Shaukat Mukadam requested through his council that the court reject the request. He will record his statement at the next hearing on January 15.
Public Prosecutor Hassan Abbas also argued against the formation of a medical panel. He inquired as to why Zahir had not requested a medical panel at the beginning of the trial, when he was well enough to question why he was being charged under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender).
The prosecutor informed the court that Zahir had been working with children at a local school and worked as the Chief Brand Strategist for his family's company prior to Mukadam's murder.
Media personnel were asked to leave the courtroom as the interrogation of key CCTV witness Mudrassar, a computer operator, continued and CCTV footage from the night of the incident was played before the court.
Noor Mukadam, aged 27, was founded murdered at a house in Sector F-7/4 in Islamabad on July 20, 2021. Zahir Jaffer was arrested at the site on the same day for premeditated murder.
The primary suspect's lawyer, Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem, argued in favor of a mental health assessment for his client.
Meanwhile, the victim's father and plaintiff Shaukat Mukadam requested through his council that the court reject the request. He will record his statement at the next hearing on January 15.
Public Prosecutor Hassan Abbas also argued against the formation of a medical panel. He inquired as to why Zahir had not requested a medical panel at the beginning of the trial, when he was well enough to question why he was being charged under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender).
The prosecutor informed the court that Zahir had been working with children at a local school and worked as the Chief Brand Strategist for his family's company prior to Mukadam's murder.
Media personnel were asked to leave the courtroom as the interrogation of key CCTV witness Mudrassar, a computer operator, continued and CCTV footage from the night of the incident was played before the court.
Noor Mukadam, aged 27, was founded murdered at a house in Sector F-7/4 in Islamabad on July 20, 2021. Zahir Jaffer was arrested at the site on the same day for premeditated murder.