Justice for Noor - Femicide in Pakistan
Written by Kalyani at 40seconds
Who is Noor?
Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old was brutally tortured and beheaded on July 19. Noor, the daughter of a former diplomat, was found dead in Islamabad on July 20 and her family was informed. The body bore marks of torture and a stab wound in the temple, and police have recovered both a knife and a pistol from the home.
The circumstances surrounding Mukadam’s death are not entirely clear. She had told her parents she was going to Lahore for a few days, but authorities say cell phone data shows she never left Islamabad.
What happened after?
The investigation is underway and the police have taken custody of a suspect, Zahir Jaffer, son of a well-known businessman Zakir Jaffer.
SSP Ataur Rehman said that police have recovered a gun, 100 bullets, and a knife from the house where Noor was murdered. Earlier reports had claimed that the suspect first shot at the girl before beheading her. However, SSP Rehman said that no firearm injury was found on the body of the victim, adding that a bullet was stuck in the gun recovered from the residence.
Who is Zakir Jaffer?
Zakir Jaffer, the son of an influential Islamabad businessman, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with Mukadam’s murder. His family was an acquaintance of Noor’s family. They both grew up together and Noor knew him.
Islamabad police have requested Jaffer be placed on the exit control list, as he is a citizen of both the U.S. and Pakistan. He had previously been deported from the United Kingdom as the result of a sexual harassment and rape case against him, according to Dawn.
Source: Twitter
Why is this causing such a stir?
In recent days, cases like Noor’s have come up. #JusticeFor has been trending with different names every day. The other two cases causing a wave are that of Saima and Quratulain. Saima’s father, a drug addict, open-fired at his wife and children. He killed his wife and seriously injured his daughter and son on July 3. Quratulain was a mother of four and was brutally killed by her husband on July 15.
Along with that, the rejection of the Domestic Violence bill on July 6th also adds to it. People are waking up and opening their eyes to a country unsafe for their women.
Women in Pakistan
Although an investigation is underway for Noor’s case, people think Jaffer would get away with such a heinous crime because of how the system works. They believe his connections and influence would prevent Noor’s rightful justice.
Women have taken it to the streets, protesting and chanting- “shame, shame, shame.” However, these calls have once again fallen on deaf ears. The relevant authorities have yet again failed to serve justice to victims of violence.
In Pakistan, women’s constitutional rights are guaranteed but are generally out-claused by other matters that are more important to the country than 51% of its population. It is a painful truth that Pakistan has completely failed to protect its women. Women are dying, they are being slaughtered. It is not the first time that we have heard about such a crime.
The authorities concerned need to take action to protect women and let them live peaceful lives. In the meanwhile, they should take severe action against the murderers. Noor, Saima, Quratulain, and hundreds of thousands of other women whose names we don't even know were among us. They too were women with ambitions, dreams, and lives they looked forward to. The day Noor was murdered was the day she was supposed to celebrate Eid Ul Azha and be merry. She was supposed to make offerings; not be an offering. Unfortunately, her wings were cut down because someone thought a woman should be shown her place. We hope for justice for Noor.