Three more held in Wajiha Swati case

New suspects allegedly involved in erasing evidence, disposing of deceased’s body

RAWALPINDI:

In a major development in the murder case of US citizen of Pakistani origin Wajiha Swati, three new arrests have been made by the Morgah police station.

Suspect Zahida Yousuf was allegedly involved in washing the crime scene to get rid of all traces of the victim’s blood, erasing evidence and washing bloodstained clothes as well as bed bedsheetsore destroying them.

The other arrested suspects include Zayed Yusuf and Yusuf Masih, with both apprehended for their alleged involvement in disposing of the deceased’s body.

All three have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the murder.

The investigation team has decided to record the confessional statements of all those arrested so far before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Code to strengthen the case.

All six suspects in custody including Rizwan Habib, ex-husband of the main accused; Hairatullah, former father-in-law of the victim; Sultan Rashid Khan, employee of the ex-husband and the three newly arrested were produced before the court of duty civil judge Talat Waheed on Saturday.

The court has ordered a three-day physical remand for all six and ordered that the investigation be completed and a full report be submitted on January 4.

The investigation team asked the court for a five-day physical remand of the suspects, stating that the vehicle used to dispose of the body of the deceased was yet to be recovered and adding that recovery of items removed from the crime scene by the recently arrested suspects was also pending.

The court granted a three-day physical remand and ordered the police to complete the investigation by January 4.

All the six accused were brought to the Judicial Complex under the strictest security of the Civil Lines police station. A heavy contingent of police was also deployed. The accused woman will be kept in the custody of Ladies Police at women’s police station.

Police refused to grant the media an audience with the suspects.

Opposing the physical remand, the lawyers of the accused requested the court to send them to jail on judicial remand, which was rejected by the court.

The scope of the investigation has been expanded, whereby all those in telephonic contact with the slain victim since her arrival in Pakistan will be made a part of the interrogation.

The body of Wajiha Swati is still lying in the mortuary of the District Headquarters Hospital, for which the family of the deceased is regularly paying rent.

Documentary preparations to send her body to the US are expected to be completed within 48 hours, after which the body will be transferred to the States for burial.

City Police Officer Sajid Kayani has commended the investigation team for their excellent work.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2022.