Three arrested in Abbottabad doctor murder case
In a grim development that has shaken Abbottabad, police have confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the kidnapping and murder of young physician Dr Warda Mushtaq, while the prime suspect remains at large. District Police Officer Haroon Rasheed said the doctor was abducted on December 4 from outside the DHQ Hospital and killed within an hour of her disappearance. Investigators revealed that the suspects drove her to an under-construction house in Jinnahabad, where she was strangled to death before her body was secretly buried in the Thandiani Lari Banota area.
According to the police, four individuals were involved in the crime. Three have already been detained — the victim’s close friend Rida, Rida’s husband, and a facilitator — while the main accused, identified as Shamrez, is still on the run. Raids are underway across multiple locations to ensure his swift arrest. Police have also recovered both vehicles allegedly used during the abduction and transport of the body.
Authorities disclosed a financial dispute as the core motive behind the murder. Investigators said Dr Warda had handed over 67 tola of gold to her friend Rida two years ago for safekeeping, but the gold was never returned. Instead, police say, Rida pawned the jewellery and obtained nearly Rs5 million against it, leaving the doctor distressed and repeatedly demanding that her gold be returned as she prepared to travel abroad.
On the day of the incident, police allege that Rida persuaded Dr Warda to visit the abandoned house, where the other suspects were already positioned. Once she arrived, the group overpowered her and carried out a preplanned killing. The case has now been expanded to include kidnapping, murder and several additional serious charges as investigators uncover more details.
The tragedy has sparked outrage in the community, with the victim’s father accusing several police officials of demanding bribes during the early phase of the investigation. He has called for the arrest of the SHO and DSP allegedly involved. Abbottabad police have rejected the allegations and maintained that the inquiry is being carried out transparently, stressing that every responsible individual will be brought to justice regardless of rank or influence.
As the hunt for the prime suspect intensifies, the case has generated widespread public anger and renewed calls for stronger protections for women, stricter oversight of police conduct and urgent reforms in the handling of missing-persons cases. The shocking murder of a young doctor who had dedicated her life to public service continues to grip Abbottabad, with residents demanding accountability and swift justice.
