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The Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld on Tuesday the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer in the brutal 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam. The ruling announced nearly four years after the high-profile killing, has been met with a nationwide sigh of relief.

Across social media, celebrities, legal experts, and everyday users, expressed solidarity with Noor’s family, applauded the perseverance of her father, and called the verdict a symbolic victory not just for Noor, but for women across Pakistan.

Many described the ruling as a rare moment where the justice system upheld the rights of a woman against the wealth and influence of a powerful perpetrator. Others saw it as a warning to those who believe privilege can shield them from justice.

The X (formerly Twitter) account Justice for Noor, run by Noor’s friends, posted shortly after the verdict:

Actor Osman Khalid Butt, a long-time supporter of the Mukadam family’s fight for justice, wrote of Noor’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, “For almost four years, Shaukat uncle kept reassuring us he had full faith in the judicial system. (Thank God), the Supreme Court has upheld Zahir’s death sentence today after a strong rebuttal by the prosecution team. I would like to thank the SC for honouring his belief that in the end, justice would triumph.”

Actor Mawra Hocane simply wrote, “Justice for Noor, served.”

Actor Aiman Khan responded with a string of clapping emojis.

Journalist Alia Chughtai offered a scathing reminder of the barbarity of the crime to reiterate, “You can’t kill a woman… and then claim ‘mental instability’, Zahir Jaffer.”

Barrister Ahsan J Pirzada hoped the verdict would serve as a wake-up call for those believing their money could save them from punishment.

Others expressed cautious relief and hope that Noor’s parents might finally sleep a little easier.

While one user tweeted, “It’s rare to feel glad about a death sentence, but sometimes, it happens,” another added a broader reflection, “This is more than just justice for Noor Mukadam; it’s a cry for all the unheard voices. Hope Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence sets a lasting precedent. For every Noor in Pakistan, let this be a sign that their pain is seen and their lives will not be forgotten.”

Even users who generally oppose capital punishment acknowledged the weight of the ruling.

Another described the moment as a “historic victory for justice,” calling the SC’s decision “a resounding stand against gender-based violence” and a “beacon of hope and accountability.”

While many echoed the sentiment that justice had finally been served, others reflected on the long, arduous road it took to get here.

One user wrote, “Justice delayed is not always justice denied,” adding that Noor’s voice — and the voices of so many women like her — had not been forgotten.

Another paid tribute to Noor’s father, acknowledging, “This is a country where fathers routinely kill their daughters in the name of so-called honour but Noor’s father fought tirelessly for justice for her even after she was gone.”

Some pointed out how Noor was vilified in the aftermath of her murder, with one user writing that the public scrutiny Noor and her family faced was a shameful reflection of societal misogyny.

Others called on the state to take this further, urging the president to reject Jaffer’s mercy petition and set a clear precedent that privilege cannot buy impunity. As one tweet pointedly put it: “Zahir Jaffer — US passport holder, vast wealth, top-tier lawyers — given the death sentence. In a system riddled with interference, this is one of the few times justice was actually done.”

The three-judge bench led by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah rejected Jaffer’s appeal, affirming his capital punishment under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, the court converted his second death sentence (for rape) to life imprisonment and reduced a 10-year sentence for abduction to one year.

Noor, aged 27 years, was found murdered at Zahir’s Islamabad residence in July 2021, with the probe revealing she was tortured before being beheaded. Zahir’s death sentence by the trial court had already been upheld by the Islamabad High Court.

After the ruling by the top court, Zahir’s last chance to escape his death sentence is a presidential pardon under Article 45 of the Constitution. The president has the power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.