ISLAMABAD: The parents of the prime suspect in the murder of the daughter of a former ambassador on Tuesday moved a bail petition in the district and sessions court in Islamabad challenging their detention.
Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered at the residence of one Zahir Zakir in Sector F-7/4 of Islamabad last week. Zakir, widely believed to be the killer, was arrested the same day for his purported involvement in the gruesome incident.
A first information report registered on the complaint of Ambassador Shaukat Ali Mukadam nominated Zakir under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Subsequently, Islamabad police arrested the parents, Zakir Jaffar and Asmat Adamjee, and the domestic staff of Zakir for “hiding evidence” and “being complicit” in the cold-blooded murder.
Admitting the petition, the court issued a notice to the police and fixed July 30 as the date for the hearing.
Earlier in the day, during the hearing, the court sent five suspects, including Zakir and his parents, to jail on a judicial remand till August 9.
The judge asked the defence if he wanted to furnish any argument on the judicial remand but he replied in the negative.
The judge then sent the suspects on judicial remand and sought the complete case record in the next hearing.
Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Monday the names of the suspects will be put on the Exit Control List to keep them from fleeing the country.
Rasheed disclosed Zakir’s name has already been placed on the Provisional National Identification List, an ECL-like list used to bypass the lengthy process of putting such people on the no-fly list.
The names of the suspects in the case will be presented in a cabinet meeting this week for approval of their inclusion in the ECL, he said.
According to a report, Zahir Jaffer had confessed to committing the crime. A police officer close to the investigation had told Dawn news on condition of anonymity that the accused had made the confession during interrogation.
“A statement of Zahir Jaffer is being recorded and he will also be produced before a magistrate to record his statement under CrPC 164,” he had said.
