Dr Warda murder: post-mortem confirms torture, strangulation

ABBOTTABAD: The post-mortem report of Dr Warda Mushtaq, who was murdered in Abbottabad, has confirmed that she was tortured and strangled to death.

According to the report, when her body was brought for autopsy on December 8, she had already been dead for 72 hours.

The initial findings confirm that she was strangled to death.

The report said that there were marks around her neck consistent with a rope or cloth, and the pressure had also fractured her neck bone. The report further stated that her body bore signs of torture.

Meanwhile, the prime suspect, Rida, her husband’s relative, and two other accused were produced before an anti-terrorism court, which granted a three-day physical remand.

Dr Warda leaves behind two young children and a husband who works in South Korea. Police officials said the motive behind the murder was greed for 67 tola of gold, prompting a woman to kill the mother of two.

During a press conference on Monday, Abbottabad DPO said that the police had made significant progress in the murder case due to timely and professional action. He stated that Dr Warda’s father had lodged a missing person report at Cantt Police Station on December 4 at 8:45pm, after which an immediate investigation was launched.

According to the initial findings, in 2023 Dr Warda had entrusted 67 tola of gold to her friend, Rida, for safekeeping.

A dispute over its return had led to tensions and even a jirga between the two.

On December 4, 2025, suspect Rida allegedly lured Dr Warda by claiming she would return the gold.

She picked her up from DHQ Hospital and took her to a half-constructed house in Rehman Street, Jadoon Plaza, where three men — Shammarez, Pervez and an unidentified person — were already present.

Following a plan made with Nadeem Zaid, son of Aurangzeb, Rida handed Dr Warda over to the suspects and returned home. Police traced the suspects using CCTV footage and call data records, leading to the arrests of Nadeem Zaid, Rida Jadoon and Pervez, while the prime suspect, Shammarez, is still at large.

The arrested suspects confessed to kidnapping and murdering Dr Warda, and burying her body in a pit in the Lari Banota forest.

On Pervez’s identification, the body was recovered by a police team led by SP Investigation and DSP Headquarters and later sent for post-mortem.

The DPO said police had conducted raids at more than 100 locations, interrogated over 35 suspects, and seized the vehicles used in the crime as well as stamp papers and cheques related to the gold dispute. He said the case was being pursued swiftly with technical support and coordinated teamwork.

The arrested suspects include Rida, wife of Waheed; Nadeem, son of Aurangzeb; and Pervez, son of Ayub. Three teams — two in Peshawar and one in Abbottabad — are working to arrest Shammarez.

The DPO told reporters that perpetrators of such brutality would not escape the law and that full justice would be ensured for the victim.