The Misery Machine - The Case of Noor Mukadam

Starting point is 00:00:00 Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th, and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th. Tickets on sale now at Yamavat Theater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in? Must be 21 to enter. You survived the Miami weekend.

Starting point is 00:00:32 Nailed the speech and maxed out your credit card in the name of friendship. Now you've got one hangover, four pastel dresses, and zero reasons to wear them again. Sell them on Deepop. Just snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. And you at least get some of your dignity money back. Someone on Deepop wants what you've got. Start selling now. Deepop where taste recognizes taste. Wonder Man, an eight-episode series, now streaming on Disney Plus. A superhero remake, not exactly what we'd expect from an Oscar-winning director.

Starting point is 00:01:10 Action! Simon Williams, audition for Wonder Man. I'm gonna need you to sign this, assuming you don't have superpowers. I'll never work again if anyone found out. My lips are sailed. Marvel Television's Wonder Man. All eight episodes now streaming, only on Disney Plus. I knew about investing, but I really didn't know how to go about it.

Starting point is 00:01:34 Meet Corey, a wealthfront client. With Wealthfront, it could put money in, and it would automatically distribute it into a diversified portfolio. Then it starts to compound. The compounding compounds on the compounding. Just let it wrong, and it's great. Over 1 million clients trust Wealthfront. Get started at Wealthfront.com. Client was paid $1,000 for their testimonial, creating a conflict of interest.

Starting point is 00:01:52 Outcomes vary. Investment management and advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisors LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. Investing involves risk to principle regardless of the strategy used. Task performance does not guarantee future results. All right, class, settle down. Today's lesson is on the Arco Rewards app. Try to stay with me. The fundamentals are simple. Earn at least five cents a gallon in rewards,

Starting point is 00:02:10 then redeem them later for up to a dollar off every gallon. Now here's where it gets complicated. Oh, wait, it doesn't. It's as simple as downloading the Arco Rewards app to get started. Class dismissed! Savings of up to $1 per gallon redeemable with $20 rewards dollars in your loyalty account. At participating locations, terms and conditions apply. Noor Mukadam was born on October 23rd, 1993, and Amman Jordan.

Starting point is 00:02:37 She was the youngest child of Kouser in Shaoqat Mukadam, a former Pakistani diplomat. Her father recalled that Nor was a beautiful child. Being the youngest of the family, Nor was everyone's darling. She grew up with two older siblings, Mohamed Ali and Sara, and her arrival was met with celebration, not just within her family, but publicly. The Jordan Times published the news that a healthy baby girl was born to a Pakistani diplomat, nor held a special place in her family's hearts. Her brother recalled her as a chubby, cheerful toddler, always surrounded by her stuffed toys.

Starting point is 00:03:17 She could spend hours quietly playing with her dolls, completely absorbed in her own little world. She liked chocolates and had a sweet tooth. baking desserts was something that she enjoyed quietly in her own time. Despite the six-year age gap between Noor and Muhammad Ali, she was easy to bond with. She never hesitated to join in his world, whether it was playing football and cricket in the yard

Starting point is 00:03:40 or competing side-by-side in video games. For Muhammad Ali, she wasn't just a younger sibling. She was his best friend. Her sister Sara remembers asking their mother about it once, wondering if Nor had ever been difficult. But the answer was always the same. Never. Nor never made a fuss.

Starting point is 00:04:00 Her love for animals ran deep, and she was never afraid of them. Even on the streets of Dublin, when the family encountered stray dogs, they would turn to Nor almost instinctively. The youngest in the pack, Nor was told to walk ahead of them so she could deal with the dog if it ever attacked them.

Starting point is 00:04:18 It was said half jokingly, but it showed how much the family trusted Nor, brave, yet always kind. Though Nor was Pakistani by nationality, her upbringing spanned through different countries and even continents. Her family had lived in Iraq, Jordan, Ireland, South Korea, and the United States. She frequently returned to Pakistan in the middle of her globe trotting. It was during her time in the U.S. that Nor began to feel the pull of home more deeply. The distance, while filled with new experiences, made her long for the familiarity of Islamabad.

Starting point is 00:04:51 Encouraged by her parents, she returned to Pakistan where she chose to make. in international relations, a field that reflected her deep interest in the world around her. Nor was a spiritual person. She had always been a curious soul, but it was faith that truly lit something inside her. She studied comparative religion, drawn to understanding how different people saw the world, but found again and again that she was coming back to Islam. It wasn't just a ritual for her, it was a calling. Her friends saw how conversations with Noor, no matter where they began often circled back to faith. Nor had a way of weaving stories with a deeper meaning.

Starting point is 00:05:30 She loved the writings of modern Muslim thinkers and even referenced them in her everyday conversations. Her knowledge often upset those around her, however, including her father. But there was something else that defined her just as strongly, and that was Norse compassion. Her father said she carried other people's pain as if it were her own.

Starting point is 00:05:52 If someone close to her was hurting, nor did not look away, she showed up for them. That kind of emotional generosity, her father said, is what she was known for. Rabia, who is Norse childhood friend, remembered her as one of the kindest and most sincere people she had ever known. What stood out even more, she said, was Norr's disarming innocence, the kind that made her believe in the goodness of everyone around her. whether it was family, friends, or even stray animals, nor looked at the world with a loving heart and soft eyes.

Starting point is 00:06:29 Nor would grow up to become a tall, beautiful young woman, quietly confident with a presence that drew people in without trying. Nor stayed within a close-knit circle in Islamabad, and it was through that circle that she came to know Zahir Zakir Jaffer. Born in 1991, Zahir was the son of Zekir Jaffer and Osmai. Adam G belonging to one of Pakistan's wealthiest and most powerful families. Zahir was a U.S. citizen who had studied psychology at Rutgers University. He was a businessman and an heir to the Joffer group of companies. He was known for the lavish parties he threw at his home. According to

Starting point is 00:07:09 Rabia, the two were in a relationship, one they kept secret from their parents. Zahir, however, claimed that he and Nor had been in a long-term relationship, known to both families who were well-acquainted with each other. According to Zahir's statement, Nor arrived at his home on July 18, 2021. He said they had stopped speaking six months earlier, but on July 18th, Nor reached out asking him to arrange a drug party

Starting point is 00:07:37 and said that she wanted to invite her friends. What he didn't mention is that he had bought a one-way ticket to New York on July 7, 20th. 2021, scheduled for the 19th later that same month. He was planning on moving there by himself. But that isn't what Noor's mother said. She claimed that Nor had been helping her prepare for Eid on the 18th of July. A busy day spent cooking, cleaning, and making sure everything was in place for the holiday ahead.

Starting point is 00:08:05 Neat up with Zahir never came up in conversation. Zahir claimed that Noor came later that same night. Hours later at 2.15 a.m. on July 19th, they got into a taxi bound for the evening. airport. She walked with him to the taxi, barefoot, no shoes, no questions, just obediently following Zahir to the car. But halfway through, Zahir told the driver to turn back around, said they were too late and wouldn't make it in time. They returned to the house by 2.35 a.m. Driver later told investigators that Nour was silent during the entire ride while Zahir kept talking. The morning of July 19th, preparations for Eid were still underway in the Mukadom household.

Starting point is 00:09:00 Both parents left the house in the morning. Nor's father had gone to Raul Pindi to buy a goat, while her mother had gone to pick up clothes from the tailor. Nor's mother called her but got no response. She assumed Nor was asleep or in the shower at home. Wasn't until the evening when they returned and found her room empty that alarm bells began to ring. They tried calling her, but Noor's phone was switched off.

Starting point is 00:09:24 Some time later, though, Nor called her parents to inform them that she was traveling to Lahore with some friends and would return in a day or two. Her parents tried reaching out to her again a day later, and that's when Norse sent a voice note. What it said has never been made public. This was Norr's last message.

Starting point is 00:09:42 Moments later, Zahir called Norse parents to tell them that their daughter was not with him. Common friends of Norin Zahir came looking for her. July 19th and 20th, they went to his house, sent by her father, worried and desperate for answers. But the gates never opened for them. They were not allowed in third. inside. From Zahir, there was only silence. No explanation was given whatsoever. But the truth was

Starting point is 00:10:06 Norr never left. She had been held captive inside the home for eight harrowing hours, from 11 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on July 20th. It's believed that Nor angered Zahir at some point when he asked her to marry him and she said no. Enraged, he locked her in a room to intimidate her. Nor threatened to make a scene if he didn't move, but Zahir told his domestic staff not to let anyone in or out of the room. During this time, he began torturing her with a knife and an iron knuckle, nor actually managed to escape twice. She bolted for the main gate when Zahir wasn't looking, but his security guard, Mohamed Iftikar, stopped her. Then she tried to jump out of an open window through the bathroom, running barefoot towards the exit.

Starting point is 00:10:56 This time it was the gardener John Mohamed who blocked her way. Zahir then dragged her back into the same room where she was being held hostage and tortured. What followed was horrific. Behind those doors, Zahir's violence escalated. He continued his assault. He essayed Nore, and finally, he beheaded her. There was no moment of remorse, no hesitation.

Starting point is 00:11:21 Zahir would later confess, almost casually, that this had been the plan all along, that if Nor said no to marrying him, she wouldn't live to walk away. Call records shows Zahir called his parents four more times at 2.21 p.m., 3 p.m., 635 p.m. and 7.29 p.m. Final call just before police found Noor's lifeless body. The calls were made to his father in Karachi.

Starting point is 00:11:48 His father knew what was happening. He knew his son had imprisoned. a woman inside their home, and he knew that he had killed Nour, but he didn't call the police. Even worse, after Nore had been beheaded, Secere told his son, you need not worry. I can handle this. I'm sending people to rescue you and dispose of the body. Nor's murder had now become a family affair. With his father's help, Zahir attempted to conceal both the evidence in Nor's body by calling five employees from Therapy Works to his residence. At that time, he was allegedly practicing as a psychotherapist after enrolling in a certification program offered by Therapy Works,

Starting point is 00:12:29 a counseling and training service in Islamabad. Therapy Works, however, has denied this claim. Zakir's true intentions were revealed later. He had ordered the employees to move Zahir immediately to their clinic, anything to build a stronger defense for him. Since Zahir was the only family member at the house at the time, his father wanted to erase all proof that he had been there at all. He was willing to do whatever it took to save his son. But things didn't go as planned. Little did he know, Zahir would end up landing himself in further trouble. When the workers entered the room, Zahir, however, reportedly became agitated and began physically attacking them. During the altercation, one of the employees Amjad Mehmud sustained injuries. The wounds were

Starting point is 00:13:16 bad enough to land him in the hospital. At the hospital, Amjah did not report the true cause of his injuries. Instead, he told hospital staff that he had been in a road accident. He was clearly covering up for Zahir. The incident was not documented as an assault in his medical records, and no formal complaint was filed at that time. Soon after, the police received details of the disturbing occurrence at the house. Zahir, found with bloody clothes and the murder weapon in his room, was arrested at the scene of the crime in charge with murder by the Islamabad police. The details of how they got there have not been revealed to the public. The immediate arrest occurred with forensic evidence. Around 10 p.m. on July 20th, Norse father received a call from

Starting point is 00:14:04 the Kossar police station, informing him that his daughter had been murdered. A first information report was registered later that same day. Following day on July 21st, the Islamabad police released images from the crime scene. Photos were brutal. Sent social media into an uproar. The hashtag Justice for Noor began to trend on Twitter. It was only two days after the murder that Noor was buried at the Naval Anchorage graveyard in Islamabad, but her name did not fade into silence. It echoed. Grief turned to outrage and outrage finally turned into action. This was a lot of the name. It was a the beginning of the legal battle against Zahir. But in a bizarre turn of events, Zahir's extended paternal family expressed their condolences to Norse family and described the murder as a horrific act.

Starting point is 00:14:52 The family addressed their earlier silence. It was shocking grief that it prevented them from speaking up. More notably, the family publicly disowned and condemned Zahir. Domjee's Zahir's maternal family too condemned the incident and said they would not intervene with the investigation. The days that followed both the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shamamud Qureshi, and Prime Minister Imran Khan, also condemned this heinous crime. Zahir was held at Adyala jail in Rawalpindi, one of Pakistan's most notorious lockups. But as the case unfolded, he wasn't the only one police were looking into for Nor's murder. On July 24th, Zahir's parents, Zekir Jaffer and Asmod Atamji, along with the household staff

Starting point is 00:15:38 including the security guard Mohamed Iftikar, Gardner John Mohammed, and Cook Jamil, were arrested on suspicion of helping Zahir cover up the crime. Most of them, however, were later acquitted. By August 14th, the evidence was damning. Police confirmed that Zahir's DNA and fingerprints, taken just weeks earlier, placed him squarely at the scene. But it was the video evidence that left no room for doubt.

Starting point is 00:16:06 In it, nor is seen trying to escape. fighting for her life. A man chasing her is Zahir. Photogrammetry test confirmed what everyone feared. The footage was real, and unlike Zahir, it was telling the truth. The next day, the fallout, widened. Six workers from therapy works, including its owner to Hears a whore, were taken into custody. Police accused them of concealing evidence, of knowing more than they said, and staying silent. The court ordered their physical remand for one day. Just over a week later, they walked free. All six of them were granted bail in order to submit a bond of five million rupees.

Starting point is 00:16:49 The questions, however, didn't go away. On September 11th, the investigation in D'nor's brutal murder took a decisive turn when police officially submitted their interim report to the court. Zahir told investigators he murdered Nore after she refused his proposal. His confession did not stop there. He also admitted to beheading her. Now recorded in official documents this would be presented as part of the prosecution's early case. But then Zahir backed track before the judge.

Starting point is 00:17:18 He denied everything. He claimed he was innocent and that so were all the others charged alongside him. Zahir said that he was falsely accused and the real culprits were still out on the streets. The defense read out a different story, one where he wasn't the villain, but instead, a victim. They claimed Noor insisted on a drug party, wanting to invite her friends to his house. The sudden return from the airport was alleged to be all Nor's plan. He claimed the party went on and that he had lost consciousness under the influence of drugs at some point in the night. Zahir then woke up to find himself tied up. Later, the police showed up and that's when he found out that

Starting point is 00:17:59 somebody had killed Noor. From the outset, Zahir displayed entitled and bizarre behavior that drew national attention and criticism. People watched as Zahir made a fool of himself. During the trial, he repeatedly disrupted the court proceedings with erratic and volatile behavior. Following his arrest, he even claimed he did not understand or speak Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, despite the fact that he was speaking in Urdu a few months later. He insisted he was being denied legal representation, frequently asserting his American citizenship. He called the whole trial a joke. Just days later on September 13th, the Islamabad High Court began hearings on the post-arrest bail petitions filed by Zahir's parents.

Starting point is 00:18:43 A group of Nor's closest friends gather outside the court's gates. Nor's father, too, stood there courageously, demanding justice for his slain daughter. At first, they stood silently, holding signs bearing her name, her photo, and the phrase, justice for Nor. Then their voices rose. They demanded accountability, not just for Zahir, but for everyone who had tried to protect him. The protest wasn't louder chaotic. It was heavy, intentional, a public act of grief and defiance. As legal arguments unfolded inside, Norse friends made sure her name would not be forgotten.

Starting point is 00:19:24 Meanwhile, in November of 2021, Zahir unraveled more of his disgraceful behavior. He hurled expletives at additional sessions, Judge. Adarrabani, shocking everyone that was present. Got so chaotic that the courtroom had to be cleared and Zahir was physically removed, being carried out by his hands and legs as he fiercely resisted. The judge described the disruption as dramatics. By mid-January, Zahir began refusing to stand in court. It was brought in handcuffed and seated, appearing listless. His lawyer, Usman Riaz-Gul, noted that his client's mental condition was deteriorating and requested yet another medical checkup. At a subsequent hearing, Zahir was brought into court lying on a stretcher.

Starting point is 00:20:37 The crispy chicken sandwich from 7-Eleven, people always call me loud. And I'm like, yeah, I know. I'm crispy. Did you expect me to whisper? If you want quiet, go eat some soup and reflect. Like, I know I'm a handful. I'm bold, I'm juicy. Throw some pickles and barbecue sauce on me, and baby, I'm a whole meal.

Starting point is 00:20:56 And with seven rewards, I'm just $4. Quiet. No. Krispy, saucy, and $4? Very. Only at 711. Valley 36-2326, participating stores only well supplies lastly out for full terms. No plea deal was ever made.

Starting point is 00:21:23 Zahir's legal team tried to argue insanity, but the court didn't buy it. Doctors from the Adiola jail declared that Zahir was completely fit to stand trial. This was just one of several attempts by the defense to paint Zahir as the victim during the course of the trial. The day finally came on February 24, 2022. A judge delivered a verdict that echoed throughout the courtroom and beyond. He found Zahir guilty of murder and essay. He was sentenced to death for the murder and an additional 25 years for the essay. Justice did not stop was Zahir.

Starting point is 00:21:57 Those who tried to hide the truth and those who turned a blind eye were held accountable as well. Zahir's security guard and Gardner both got 10 years each for aiding and abetting. But this wasn't the end. Appeals dragged on for years. In March of 2023, the Islamabad High Court upheld the murder conviction and upgraded the essay sentenced from life to death. In May of 2025, the Supreme Court of Pakistan stepped in. In a hearing held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the final verdict was announced. The silence in the courtroom was sharp when Supreme Court Justice Ali Bakar Najafi finally responded to the prosecution's

Starting point is 00:22:39 plea for the state to treat femicide with the urgency that it deserves. But instead of acknowledging the system that allowed a woman to be tortured and killed, Justice Ali deflected. He said, the state should sensitize the youth on the consequences of live-in relationships. Now, to be clear, Nor was not in a live-in relationship. She was not killed because she stayed over. She was killed because Zahir could not tolerate her freedom. But the judge's remark framed Nor, not her killer, as the one who crossed a moral line. Zahir's lawyer, Salman Safdar, seized the moment. He told the bench this should not be treated like a matrimonial case,

Starting point is 00:23:24 warning that a conviction would open the floodgates in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Norse counsel pushed back with the facts. She tried to escape multiple times. She was trapped. She was abducted. But the bench stayed fixed on the idea of a live-in relationship. irrelevant to the case, yet central to their line of questioning. The result?

Starting point is 00:23:48 Zahir was acquitted of abduction. The sentences of the house staff who stood by as Nor screamed were reduced. And in the end, it wasn't just Nor who was judged. It was every woman who ever tried to leave a violent situation. They upheld the murder death sentence but downgraded the essay sentence to life imprisonment. They also knocked down the 10-year abduction charge to just one year. Yes, Zahir was still on death row. He was never going to see the light of day again.

Starting point is 00:24:21 But the precedent in this case set in court would be certain to impact future cases in Pakistan involving abduction and assay. Zahir had spent nearly four years behind bars by this point. As of now, he is still in prison under death row custody awaiting execution. When the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld Zahir's death sentence on May 20, 2025, it didn't just endorse the verdict of a lower court. Our friend from Pakistan described the ruling to us as a rare moment of clarity in a country where justice for women is often elusive, delayed, or denied altogether.

Starting point is 00:24:57 Doing so, the court issued a powerful signal that no amount of wealth, foreign citizenship, or elite status would shield a man from the consequences of brutal, premeditated murder. The court rejected Zahir's last defense, which was a plea of mental instability. The judges ruled that this was not an impulsive act by a man in distress. It was a cold and calculated act that was prolonged and vicious. For Pakistani women, the verdict resonated far beyond the walls of the court. It was symbolic, a rare instance when the state publicly stood on the side of the victim, not the perpetrator. but it was also structural.

Starting point is 00:25:40 It showed that even within a slow and battered judicial system, there exists the capacity, however fragile, for institutional courage. The precedent has been said by the highest court in the judicial hierarchy, promising justice to victims of femicide across the country. In the streets, the feminist organization Orat March galvanized thousands. Women carried Norse image beside those of other, women whose stories never made it to the front pages or courtrooms. They shouted not just for her, but for every woman made invisible by a system that still treats male violence as a private matter

Starting point is 00:26:19 or a moral lapse. It was not too long ago that nor stood at a woman's march, holding a placard advocating for justice in women's rights. Justice did not come swiftly. There were delays, procedural hurdles, endless appeals, and behind every adjournment of family living in limbo and a public watching carefully, afraid of betrayal. The fear was real that Zahir's affluence, his U.S. citizenship, his connections, would tip the scales like they so often do, turning justice into a slow, elusive dream for Naur and everyone fighting tirelessly for the truth to be finally heard and acted upon. Yet in the end, Zahir was not. not just convicted. He was condemned with finality. Nor was buried in 2021. For her family,

Starting point is 00:27:10 they were able to know that her murderer would never walk free again in 2025. In between, there were vigils, protests, debates, and endless pain. But there was also resilience, a refusal to forget. And in that refusal, the seeds of change. An Instagram account called Justice for Nor run by her closest friends, serves as a powerful digital space dedicated to her remembrance. Through multiple posts, the account shares heartfelt messages, handwritten notes, and emotional tributes from Nor's loved ones, painting a vivid picture of the person she was beyond the headlines. It's a place where Nor's memories are kept alive, where grief is shared, and where calls for justice continue to echo. The account not only honors Nor's life, but also,

Starting point is 00:28:00 raises awareness about violence against women, inspiring many to speak out in demand change. Nor's story doesn't end with a verdict. It remains a reminder that when the system hesitates, people must not. That justice is not just a sentence, but a sustained refusal to let silence win. We would like to take a moment to introduce our friend Areege, who lives in Pakistan. She's a content creator that focuses on, among other things, her thoughts on faith, and women's issues in her home country. We will have a link to her Instagram account in our pin comment and video description for you to check out.

Starting point is 00:28:37 While we were creating this episode, which Areege so graciously assisted us with, a 17-year-old content creator in Pakistan was gunned down by a man all because she refused his advances just like Nore. Her name was Sana Yusuf. We asked Erege to share her thoughts about life as a young woman in Pakistan

Starting point is 00:28:57 and the dangers of day-to-day life. this is what she had to say. Noam Mukadden case as heartbreaking and as soul-shattering as it is, it's nothing new for any women in Pakistan. There's so many women around me that I know, including myself, that have gone through things that are inexplainable. I cannot narrate those stories to anyone. Because of the collective narcissism,

Starting point is 00:29:23 women are ferociously tied to this concept of honor and dignity. And the moment you bring up any of this violence, you bring up any of this harassment, her character is torn apart. Trying to find out and nitpick issues, that would make her less worthy of the justice that was served to her. And quite honestly, in a lot of the cases, it's not served at all. So many cases, they go unreported. And when you look at the status X of the kind of violence that women go through every day in their lives, you'd be shaken to your core. With Noot's case, we had somewhat of a hope that maybe if Zahar is hanged, then other men in the society will be deterred, right? Trust me when I say, it's so true that justice delayed is justice denied.

Starting point is 00:30:11 She had ties to a very, very powerful family, and it took us four years to give justice to her. I don't think I need to expand on what happens to women in middle class families. at this point we're so hopeless in the justice system that helps women in Pakistan that we would rather not share we would rather have the news buried than to become a public spectacle even I know the moment that I'm going to go up to someone and tell them that this is what happened to me they're going to try and find out if I am the perfect victim and every day we come across this news where a woman is killed regardless of her age regardless of the general rule that she's serving.

Starting point is 00:30:58 We have a very, very fresh case of a young girl who just passed away. And you'd be surprised at how many people are validating her murder because they believe that's how the honor of the society is restored. Most of us are just thinking who's going to be the next hashtag. Ryan Reynolds here from IntMobil. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying.

Starting point is 00:31:25 It's not just for celebrities, so do like I did and have one of your assistants assistants to switch you to MintMobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mintmobile.com slash switch. Up front payment of $45 for three-month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See full terms at mintmobile.com.

The Misery Machine - The Case of Noor Mukadam

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.