ABBOTTABAD: The prime suspect in the high-profile murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq was killed in an alleged police encounter near the Thandiani area on Sunday evening, police sources confirmed. The suspect, identified as Shamrez, was being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital following the operation.
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The targeted raid took place in the Thandiani-Kundla area as part of an intensified effort to apprehend armed suspects linked to Dr Warda’s abduction and killing earlier this month. During the confrontation, Shamrez was killed on the spot while resisting arrest, police said. Authorities described him as a dangerous criminal who had evaded capture since the murder, which had sparked widespread outrage across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
اچھی خبر
ڈاکٹر وردہ کیس کا اجرتی قاتل شمریز پولیس مقابلے میں مارا گیا pic.twitter.com/UytLZsp1gt— Muzamil (@muzamil_45) December 14, 2025
Several suspects had already been arrested in connection with the case, but Shamrez remained at large, prompting intensified operations. A high-level joint investigation team was also formed by the provincial government to ensure a thorough and transparent inquiry into the incident.
DPO Abbottabad Haroonur Rasheed, speaking at a press conference late Sunday night, said Shamrez’s two accomplices managed to flee into the Thandiani forest during the raid. Police had received information about the suspects’ presence at Thandiani Kund and launched the operation accordingly.
“The accused opened fire during the raid, and in the exchange of fire, Shamrez was killed,” DPO Rasheed said. He added that the operation to apprehend the fleeing accomplices was ongoing.
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Shamrez’s body was taken to Ayub Medical Complex, though media access was not allowed. The DPO noted that arresting Shamrez had been a major challenge for law enforcement, highlighting the risks involved in bringing dangerous suspects to justice.