ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Sunday stopped the airing of CCTV footage showing Noor Mukadam’s unsuccessful attempt to escape from the house where she was murdered in July this year.

Last week, court of Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani was presented a transcript of the CCTV footage by the prosecution.

According to the transcript, at 2:41am on July 19 barefooted Noor Mukadam tried to run from the house, where she was eventually murdered, but alleged killer Zahir Jaffer dragged her back inside despite her repeated pleas for mercy.

Pemra issued the notification prohibiting TV channels from airing the footage as some of the channels had telecast a leaked video clip in which helpless Noor was seen making attempts to escape while the alleged killer and his watchmen did not allow her to get out of the house.

Noor’s friends condemned the television channels for airing the footage.

“Absolutely shocked & shattered. It’s only been a day since the CCTV footage has been given to the defence team. 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. Have they not been through enough,” tweeted the Twitter handler of the group ‘Justice for Noor’.

Information Secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Marriyum Aurangzeb also objected to the leaking of the video clip. “Really disappointed to see the video of Noor’s painful, final moments being aired and shared today. 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 Noor was subjected to,” she said.

“I reach out as a parent, a citizen and a human, on the disturbing footage circulating. To the parents of Noor Mukadam, I apologise; we have let you down and again my sincere condolences for your tragic loss and having to endure her suffering again,” the PML-N leader said.

The Pemra notification said: “Telecast of CCTV footage of Ms Noor Mukadam and Zahir Jaffer is prohibited.”

It further stated: “All the satellite TV channels (News & Current Affairs/Regional Language) are therefore directed to stop airing aforementioned CCTV footage immediately, failing which strict action shall be initiated against the violators under sections 29, 30 and 33 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007.”

Earlier, the transcript stated that as Noor could be seen running towards the main gate in fear and panic, watchman Iftikhar could be seen closing the gate to prevent her from leaving.

It said that Noor entered Zahir’s home while attending to a phone call at 2:39am on July 19. The two could be seen coming out of the house with bags, which they placed in a taxi. They then went back inside.

Later, Noor could be seen running towards the gate, but the watchman closed it. The alleged killer then came out of a room and dragged Noor back inside despite her pleading with her hands joined together.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2021