'I’ll take care of it': Father of murder suspect tried to dispose of Noor Mukadam body

Women rights activists hold placards during a demonstration in Lahore on July 24, 2021, against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam in Islamabad. (AFP/File)
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Updated 13 September 2021
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'I’ll take care of it': Father of murder suspect tried to dispose of Noor Mukadam body

  • Police charge sheet says Zahir Zakir Jaffer's parents 'abetted in the murder' and tried to destroy evidence
  • Trial in the July 20 beheading of Noor Mukadam is scheduled to begin on Sept. 23

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Islamabad police investigators have revealed the father of Zahir Zakir Jaffer — the prime suspect in July's gruesome beheading of Noor Mukadam — has tried to destroy the evidence of murder and dispose of the victim's body.

Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was found beheaded at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 neighborhood on July 20 in a case that has sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention unlike any other recent crime against women.

Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene on the day of the murder. He was initially on police remand but was moved to Adiala Jail in the city of Rawalpindi on judicial remand in early August. His parents, Zakir Jaffer and Ismat Adamjee, and three members of household staff are also under arrest for a range of charges in relation to the case.

According a detailed charge sheet filed against him by police investigators, Jaffer was in touch with his parents before and after the crime and had they informed the police in time, it could have been avoided. The charge sheet says the Jaffers had, instead, "abetted in the murder" and tried to cover it up.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” the charge sheet quotes Jaffer's father as telling him after Mukadam's beheading. “Our people are coming, they will take you out from there and dispose of the body."

A five-member team of counselling center Therapy Works, where Jaffer enrolled in a certification course to practice as a psychotherapist, reached the crime scene on Jaffer father's request to “conceal the crime and destroy the evidence.”

The arrival of Therapy Works workers confused Zahir and he stabbed one them. The man, later identified as Amjad Mahmood, was admitted in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where he told the doctors that he was injured in a road accident.

“This all was an attempt to hide the evidence in the murder,” the police charge sheet said.

Mukadam came to Zahir’s home on July 18, according to the document. She tried to leave the place twice, the charge sheet said, but Jaffer's household staff were ordered not to let anyone out of the residence. Jaffer’s security guard and gardener did not let her open the main gate.

“The suspect had directed his household staff including the security guard not to let anybody inside or go outside the home." After she tried to flee, he dragged her back inside the house. He also raped her, the police charge sheet said.

"A DNA report confirmed the accused had raped the victim … the forensic report confirmed the victim was not drugged or poisoned."

Investigators said they are still waiting to receive forensic reports based on data from Jaffer's phone and laptop from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Jaffer's trial was scheduled for Sept. 8, but the court adjourned it until Sept. 23.
 


Pakistan PM embarks today on regional diplomacy tour after ceasefire with India

Updated 25 May 2025
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Pakistan PM embarks today on regional diplomacy tour after ceasefire with India

  • The development comes two weeks after Pakistan and India traded missile, drone and artillery strikes before agreeing to a truce on May 10
  • During the four-day conflict, several friendly nations supported Pakistan’s demand for a probe into an attack that triggered the standoff

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to begin today, Sunday, a five-day tour of Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to thank leadership for supporting Islamabad during this month’s military conflict with India, the Pakistani foreign office said.

Pakistan and India this month traded missile, drone and artillery strikes for days, killing around 70 people on both sides, before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

The conflict, the worst between the neighbors in decades, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies complicity.

During the conflict, several friendly nations supported Pakistan’s demand for a credible, international probe into the attack as they urged the nuclear-armed archfoes to exercise restraint.

“During the visit, the prime minister will have wide-ranging discussions with the leaders of these countries on an entire range of issues covering bilateral relations and matters of regional and international importance,” Pakistan’s foreign office said.

“He will also have the opportunity to express the deepest appreciation and acknowledgment for the support extended to Pakistan by the friendly countries during the recent crisis with India.”

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part. The conflict had raised fears that it could spiral into a full-blown war.

Both countries have separately announced sending delegations to key capitals and friendly countries to present their stance on this month’s standoff before the world, in a bid to gain world support.

During his visit aimed at furthering Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, Sharif will also attend an International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 29-30, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

The conference aims to advance global efforts in climate adaptation and resilience, with a specific focus on addressing glacial melting.

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing numerous impacts like rising temperatures and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Officials say unusually high temperatures in Pakistan’s northern areas have resulted in rapid melting of glaciers, warning that the prolonged phenomenon could lead to water shortages and threaten lives in the longer run.


Pakistan launches nationwide polio campaign to immunize over 45 million children

Updated 25 May 2025
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Pakistan launches nationwide polio campaign to immunize over 45 million children

  • Pakistan, Afghanistan are only countries where polio remains an endemic
  • Health officials have confirmed 10 polio cases in Pakistan so far this year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a third nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of this year that aims to inoculate 45 million children under five, the country’s polio program said on Sunday.

The campaign was formally inaugurated by Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, who administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad.

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children are essential to ensure strong immunity against the disease.

Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year, according to the polio program. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signaling continued circulation.

“Polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country,” Farooq said.

“This third campaign of 2025 marks a decisive milestone in our 2-4-6 roadmap. These back-to-back rounds from September 2024 to May 2025 represent our most strategic opportunity to close immunity gaps and halt virus circulation before the high transmission season begins.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

The polio program described the weeklong campaign as a critical intervention in Pakistan’s “final push” to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by end of 2025.

Farooq acknowledged persistent challenges in areas such as Karachi, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Quetta, but noted encouraging progress in reaching previously underserved populations.

Around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 woman vaccinators, are powering the campaign, according to the polio program.

Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil, who just concluded his tenure, expressed confidence in the program’s direction.

“Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future,” he said.

Pakistan’s polio program began in 1994, but efforts to eradicate the virus have been repeatedly undermined by vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim that immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage.

Militant groups have also frequently targeted polio vaccination teams and the security personnel assigned to protect them, often resulting in deadly attacks.

The polio program has urged public to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.


Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today

Updated 25 May 2025
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Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today

  • The showdown begins this evening at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium with major prize money on the line
  • Shaheen Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars aim for a third PSL title and a historic win on home ground

KARACHI: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars will face 2019 winners Quetta Gladiators in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) today, Sunday, with both sides aiming to make history in the tenth edition of the country’s premier T20 tournament.

The final will be played under lights at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, with the match set to begin at 7:30 p.m. local time. A reserve day has been scheduled for Monday in case of rain.

The winner will walk away with $500,000 in prize money, while the runners-up will receive $200,000.

Either the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Qalandars will become only the second team in PSL history to win three titles, or the Saud Shakeel-led Gladiators will lift their second trophy after a six-year gap.

Qalandars fought their way into the final through the playoffs, knocking out Karachi Kings and Islamabad United, while Quetta topped the points table and beat Islamabad in the qualifier to book their spot.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be leading Quetta Gladiators to an HBL PSL final and we will do our best to lift the trophy,” Shakeel said. “Qaddafi Stadium really has been a lucky venue for us where we have won five out of our six games and will look to continue the winning momentum.”

Afridi said Lahore were aiming for a title hat trick on home turf.

“We are buzzing to feature in our third HBL PSL final in the last four editions and our aim is to complete the treble at our home ground,” he said.

Lahore, who finished fourth in the group stage, will take confidence from their previous outing against Quetta, where they secured a commanding 79-run win before their second encounter was washed out.

Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Naeem have led the charge with the bat for Qalandars, while Shaheen, Haris Rauf and Rishad Hossain have spearheaded the bowling attack.

Quetta, meanwhile, have enjoyed a dramatic turnaround after finishing last in 2023.

Their success this season has been fueled by consistent performances from Hasan Nawaz, Rilee Rossouw and a bowling unit featuring Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir.

Both captains promised a highly competitive final to close out what has been a landmark 34-match edition of the HBL PSL.


Gunmen kill journalist in southwestern Pakistan

Updated 24 May 2025
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Gunmen kill journalist in southwestern Pakistan

  • Latif Baloch, who worked for a national news channel and a local newspaper, was killed in Awaran district
  • According to Freedom Network Pakistan, 53 journalists were killed in the country between 2012 and 2022

QUETTA: Unknown armed men stormed a house in Balochistan’s Awaran district in the early hours of Saturday and killed a journalist working for a mainstream news channel and a local newspaper, a Levies official said.

The killing took place in Mashkay, a remote town in the mountainous Awaran district, regarded as a stronghold of Baloch separatist groups, particularly the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF).

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, is home to a separatist insurgency led by ethnic Baloch groups, which Islamabad accuses of being backed by India.

New Delhi denies the allegation.

Earlier this month, Pakistan blamed India for a deadly attack on a school van in Khuzdar district that killed eight people, including six schoolchildren.

Zulqarnain Baloch, a Levies official in Mashkay, told Arab News that unidentified gunmen entered journalist Latif Baloch’s house at 3 a.m. and shot him dead while he was asleep with his family.

“The attackers only targeted him,” he said, adding: “Motives behind the murder are being investigated.”

According to the Press Freedom Network, an advocacy organization for media rights in Pakistan, 53 journalists were killed in the country between 2012 and 2022.

Hameedullah Sherani, the network’s provincial coordinator in Balochistan, said journalists in the province face serious threats while carrying out their work.

“Journalists in Balochistan have been working under threats by the state and non-state actors,” he said. “More than 40 journalists in Balochistan have lost their lives in the line of duty over the last two decades.”

The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) strongly condemned the killing and called for a high-level investigation.

“The provincial government must arrest the attackers behind the killing of Latif Baloch,” said Khalil Ahmed, BUJ president. “Journalists are already facing severe threats in the sensitive region of Balochistan. The government has to take immediate action for the safety of working journalists.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, remains one of Pakistan’s most dangerous regions for journalists.


Pakistan’s Punjab reports eight deaths, 45 injuries in rain and storm-related incidents

Updated 24 May 2025
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Pakistan’s Punjab reports eight deaths, 45 injuries in rain and storm-related incidents

  • Deaths were primarily caused by collapsing dilapidated structures during extreme downpour in different cities
  • A fresh advisory warns of potential damage to weak infrastructure as hail and heavy rain remain in forecast

KARACHI: Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province on Saturday released a preliminary report on damages caused by heavy rain and stormy weather, saying eight people were killed and 45 others injured in different cities as strong winds, lightning and hail battered parts of the country.

The report followed a weather alert issued a day earlier by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), warning of thunderstorms, gusty winds, dust storms and rain in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad.

As the day progressed, heavy rain and hailstorms struck the federal capital and parts of KP after dark clouds gathered overhead. In Swat, torrential rain lashed the region with reports of hail in some areas and surging waters in local rivers and streams.

In Punjab’s major cities, including Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Jhelum and Lahore, the storm brought strong winds and poor visibility, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down sections of the motorway for safety.

“Eight citizens lost their lives and 45 others were injured due to storm and rain-related incidents,” the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said in a statement. “Fatalities occurred in Rawalpindi (1), Jhelum (3), Sheikhupura (1), Nankana Sahib (1), Sialkot (1) and Mianwali (1).”

The PDMA said deaths were primarily caused by collapsing dilapidated structures or being in unsafe locations during the storm. Heavy downpour damaged several mud and old brick houses in many of these places, while in Lahore, incidents of fallen trees and damaged solar panels were also reported.

According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, all district emergency operations centers have been activated, while the provincial control room is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

“Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather and stay away from electric poles and hanging wires,” he warned.

“People should remain indoors during lightning storms and ensure children stay away from weak or damaged buildings,” he added.

Kathia said financial assistance would be provided to affected families in accordance with the provincial administration’s policy.

A fresh advisory issued Saturday evening by the National Weather Forecasting Center in Islamabad warned of potential damage to weak infrastructure, including electricity poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels, due to thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain expected overnight and into Sunday.

Pakistan has increasingly faced extreme weather events, including droughts, heatwaves and floods, linked to climate change. In 2022, it witnessed unprecedented monsoon rains that submerged much of the country, killing about 1,700 people and causing infrastructure losses exceeding $35 billion.