Claim: An Instagram post by Maati TV claimed: “After a long period of almost 40 days the Islamabad High Court has given its verdict stating that Zahir Jaffer is guilty of murder of Noor Mukadam. Seeing justice prevail is a light of hope and reassurance for everyone. We hope that this is the justice provided to every victim and survivor of all natures of abuse.”
Fact: Soch Fact Check found Maati TV’s post to be false. Jaffer is on trial for the murder of Noor Mukaddam, but no judgement has been passed on the case so far. The post also incorrectly states the case was decided by the Islamabad High Court, while it is actually being heard in the district and sessions court of Islamabad.
On 20 July 2021, Noor Mukaddam was murdered at Zahir Jaffer’s home in Islamabad. The police have charged Jaffer for premeditated murder. He is currently in Adiala jail on judicial remand while criminal proceedings against him are ongoing. He will be presented at the district and sessions court in Islamabad for his next hearing on 6th September 2021.
On 30 August 2021 Maati TV’s Instagram page, which has 17 thousand followers posted an image below captioned “After a long period of almost 40 days the Islamabad High Court has given its verdict stating that Zahir Jaffer is guilty of murder of Noor Mukadam. Seeing justice prevail is a light of hope and reassurance for everyone. We hope that this is the justice provided to every victim and survivor of all natures of abuse.”
The image has since been liked more than 500 times on Instagram, and the claim has been repeated on Twitter. Since Jaffer’s trial is still ongoing, we decided to fact check this claim. False claims about ongoing criminal trials may affect their outcome and, in cases of public interest, are detrimental to civic awareness.
Soch Factcheck found this claim to be false. Jaffer is currently in Adiala Jail, where he will be kept under judicial remand until 6 September 2021, but he has not been declared guilty by a court. The post also incorrectly states that “the Islamabad High Court has given its verdict”. The case is being heard in the district and sessions court of Islamabad, not the high court.
The second image in the post contradicts the false caption, stating that the police investigation has found Jaffer guilty and that a case challan has been prepared requesting that the court give him a strict punishment.
A much awaited development in the case came on 30 Augst 2021, when the police submitted its charge sheet in the case stating that Jaffer is guilty of her murder. This does not mean the court has declared Jaffer guilty, but rather that the police have accused him of the crime.
Summary: Zahir Jaffer, the main accused in the murder of Noor Mukaddam, has been named guilty in a police charge sheet, but has not been found guilty by the court. The trial against him is ongoing and his next hearing will take place on 6 September 2021.