ONE of the lawyers representing the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir has vowed not to yield to any form of pressure or interference in the pursuit of justice over the teenager’s death.
Shahlan Jufri, speaking in response to a photograph circulating online, clarified that the image of him with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali was taken in June and bore no relevance to the ongoing case.
“The attempt by certain quarters to link the photograph to Zara Qairina’s death is a malicious and false narrative aimed at misleading the public,” he said.
“I want to stress that my commitment lies solely with seeking justice for Zara. As a lawyer, I act without fear or favour, upholding due process and the integrity of the law. I will not bow to any pressure or attempts to derail or distort this pursuit, which I have undertaken since the day I was appointed to represent Zara’s mother.”
The photograph also included Datuk Ram Singh, who represents one of the teenagers accused of bullying Zara Qairina. Its circulation triggered heated debate online, with speculation over perceived conflicts of interest.
Shahlan further stated that his dedication to the case was evident in his efforts, including the successful exhumation of Zara Qairina’s remains and the subsequent post-mortem, which he attended for nearly eight hours at the request of his client.
He added, “We also filed for harsher punishment against the alleged perpetrator — up to a maximum of 10 years — and our application for an inquest has been approved and is currently under way.”
Zara Qairina, a Form One student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Sabah, was found unconscious in a school dormitory drain at around 3am on 16 July. She was pronounced dead the following day. - August 21, 2025
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