Abbottabad: protest erupts after body of missing doctor recovered

WEB DESK: A major protest by doctors and hospital staff paralysed parts of Abbottabad today following the recovery of the body of a missing female doctor and the arrest of a suspect in her murder.

The body of Dr Wardah Mushtaq was discovered in the Thandiani forest, four days after she was reported missing. Police revealed the grim find was made based on information provided by a female suspect, who allegedly handed her friend, Dr Wardah, over to contract killers. One suspect has been arrested on the primary suspect’s identification, while the main accused remains at large.

Enraged by the killing and alleging police negligence, doctors and hospital staff launched a forceful demonstration. Protestors locked the gates of the hospital and completely blocked the main Silk Road (Shahrah-e-Resham), causing severe traffic disruptions for the public.

Chanting strong slogans against the police and district administration, the protestors accused the authorities of “criminal negligence and incompetence.” They condemned what they called the police’s “lethargic and slow” response to the doctor’s disappearance, claiming it contributed to the tragic outcome.

According to initial reports, Dr Warda had a financial dispute involving 67 tolas of gold with her friend, Rida, with whom she had left the hospital to retrieve the gold she had entrusted to her. She went missing soon after. Her body was recovered today from Thandiani, prompting doctors and hospital staff to stage a major demonstration at Fawara Chowk, where they have blocked the Karakoram Highway in protest.