Dr Warda murder case: one suspect confesses, three others deny involvement

ABBOTTABAD: At least one suspect in the Dr Warda Mushtaq murder case has confessed to the crime before a judicial magistrate, while three other suspects have denied all charges.

The confession follows the killing of the prime accused in an alleged police encounter.

Police produced four suspects — Rida Jadoon, her husband Waheed alias Billa, Nadeem and Parvez — before a judicial magistrate after completion of their physical remand.

During the hearing, Rida and Waheed denies all allegations linked to the murder. Suspect Nadeem also denied any connection with the murder. Parvez, however, recorded a confessional statement before the magistrate, which investigators have termed crucial for the prosecution and further investigation.

Police sought an extension in the physical remand of the suspects, but the special anti-terrorism court rejected the request and sent all four to jail on judicial remand.

It is pertinent to note that the prime accused, Shamrez, was killed on Sunday night in an alleged police encounter.

According to police, the incident occurred near the Thandiani area in the limits of Nawanshehr police station, when joint teams of Cantonment and Nawanshehr police were conducting an operation to arrest the absconding suspect.

Police officials said that Shamrez’s accomplices opened fire on the police party during the operation. In the exchange of fire, Shamrez was allegedly hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices and died on the spot, while two accomplices escaped under the cover of darkness.

Police said that a pistol and ammunition were recovered from the scene. The body was shifted to Ayub Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem, while a separate case has been registered against the absconding suspects. Special teams have been formed to arrest them.

Meanwhile, the killing of the prime accused before completion of judicial proceedings has raised concerns in legal and public circles, as it was believed that he possessed vital information regarding the planning, execution and facilitation of the crime.

As proceedings continue, the court is expected to closely examine the available evidence, confessional statements and police investigation to ensure that all those involved in the murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq are brought to justice in accordance with the law.