By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday issued its written order on a plea seeking bail for Asmat Adamjee, mother of prime suspect Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case. The apex court had on Monday granted Asmat bail after she challenged the rejection of her bail pleas by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). A similar plea filed by Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer, was rejected.
“Asmat’s bail plea is accepted under a sub-section of Section 497 [pertaining to release on bail for individuals under the age of 16, women or sick] of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898,” read the verdict.
The law allows women to seek bail even if they are suspected to have committed a nonbailable offence. According to the verdict, the Asmat has been directed to submit bonds worth Rs1 million as surety against her bail.
“The bail shall be cancelled in case of misuse of release, tactics to delay the trial or influencing the witnesses of the case,” reads the verdict. The verdict, comprising three pages, was written by Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Separately, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking bail for Asmat’s husband, Zakir.
Moreover, the SC verdict added that the IHC’s orders to complete the trial within two months should be upheld. Earlier, the IHC had rejected the bail pleas filed by Zahir’s parents in the case.
Zakir and Ismat had filed bail petitions in the case stating that they had nothing to do with Noor’s murder, while the police challan presented in court said that if Zahir’s parents had informed the police in time, Noor could have been saved.
