New details have emerged in the murder case of Dr. Wardah Mushtaq, who was abducted from DHQ Hospital Abbottabad and later found dead. Police officials revealed that she was killed within one hour of her kidnapping. They confirmed that both vehicles used in the crime have been seized. The rapid timeline has increased pressure on investigators to uncover the full motive.
According to sources, Dr. Wardah was worried about her 67 tolas of gold before traveling abroad. The accused woman, Rida, persuaded her to hand over the gold for safekeeping. However, Rida had already mortgaged the gold and obtained five million rupees. This alleged betrayal deepened the financial angle of the crime. Investigators believe the gold remains central to the case.
Meanwhile, authorities have decided to form a Joint Investigation Team. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approved the proposal. A letter has been sent to the Chief Secretary for formal notification. The proposed JIT will be headed by a senior civil officer. It will also include representatives from CTD, Special Branch, Police, and Prosecution.
Police produced the arrested suspects before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Abbottabad. The accused include Rida, her husband Naveed, and two others, Nadeem and Pervaiz. The court granted police a three-day physical remand. The main suspect, Shamraiz, remains on the run. Investigators are conducting raids to locate him.
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Doctors and paramedical staff at Ayub Medical Complex continued their protest. They demanded swift justice for the murdered doctor. Demonstrators blocked both sides of the Karakoram Highway. The protest caused disruptions for hours and highlighted public anger. Staff members vowed to continue their strike until arrests are completed.
Media reports revealed more details about the crime. Dr. Wardah was kidnapped on December 4 from outside the hospital. Her body was found four days later in Lari Banota. The suspects first took her to an under-construction house in Jinnahbad. They strangled her there and later buried her near Thandiani. The timeline matched early police findings.
The initial post-mortem report confirmed strangulation as the cause of death. Marks around her neck indicated the use of rope or cloth. Her neck bone was fractured during the assault. The report also noted signs of torture on her body. Dr. Wardah leaves behind two young children and a husband who works in Korea. Her family has demanded severe punishment for the killers.