Case Update Status

Pemra prohibited all satellite TV channels from airing a leaked CCTV footage of noor Muqaddam's case.

Summary of Case

"On 14 Nov, 2021 The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited all satellite TV channels from airing a leaked CCTV footage showing Noor Mukadam's unsuccessful attempt to escape the premises of the house where she was eventually murdered.

Noor, 27, was found brutally murdered at a residence in Islamabad's upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20. A first information report (FIR) was registered the same day against Zahir Jaffer — the main accused, who was arrested from the site of the murder, under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the victim's father, Shaukat Ali Mukadam.

A trial court on October 14 had indicted Zahir along with 11 others in the case — his parents, their three household staff including Iftikhar (watchman), Jan Muhammad (gardener) and Jameel (cook), Therapyworks CEO Tahir Zahoor and employees Amjad, Dilip Kumar, Abdul Haq, Wamiq and Samar Abbas. The murder trial formally began on Oct 20.

According to the notification issued by Pemra, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, telecast of CCTV footage of Noor and Zahir has been prohibited under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance, 2002.

""All satellite TV channels (news and current affairs/regional language) are, therefore, directed to stop airing aforementioned CCTV footage immediately,"" the notification said.

The regulator warned that strict action will be taken against violators under Section 29, 30 and 33 of the Pemra Ordinance, 2002.

On November 9, the prosecution in the Noor case had submitted the transcript of the CCTV footage to an Islamabad sessions court. Subsequently, the court had directed the public prosecutor to provide the footage to the defence counsel.

Meanwhile, a Twitter account run by Noor's friends denounced the fact that TV channels were airing the CCTV footage despite explicit instructions from the court stating otherwise.

""Absolutely shocked and shattered. Its only been a day since the CCTV footage was given to the defence legal team,"" a tweet published through the account said. ""The Judge told them that it shouldn't be leaked at all. Now it's out there. No regard of what this would be like for Noor's loved ones. Haven't they been through enough?"" PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb said she was ""disappointed"" to see the CCTV footage being aired.

""[I] can’t begin to imagine how distressing and difficult this must be for Noor’s family and loved ones who are being forced to relive the barbarism she was subjected too,"" the PML-N leader said on Twitter.

""This horrible, tragic crime tore through our social fabric and deeply affected all Pakistanis. Airing and sharing the video of Noor’s final moments only further damages that social fabric and causes anguish to her family. I’d request everyone to please not share the video,"" she appealed."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Dawn

Date of incident

14

Month

November

Year

2021

Name of affected person

No one affected

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

All TV Channels

Other affected organizations

All TV Channels

Action by

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

N/A

Professional category

N/A

Age of victim

Not applicable

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: Not applicable

Date of compensation announcement by government: Not applicable

Date of compensation paid by government: Not applicable

Amount of compensation announced by others: Not applicable

Date of compensation announced by others: Not applicable

Date compensation paid by others: Not applicable

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Not applicable

Court where case was presented: Not applicable

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Not applicable

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Not applicable

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: