Wajiha Swati’s body flown to US

US embassy officials oversee arrangements at Islamabad airport

RAWALPINDI:

The body of Wajiha Swati, a mother of three who was killed after being abducted within the limit of Morgah Police Station, was flown to the United States from the Islamabad International Airport on Friday.

US embassy officials had made arrangements at the airport to transfer the body to the United States via Dubai. The body was flown from the Islamabad airport on a private airline flight 613 to the US vis Dubai.

The body was transferred to the United States after police received formal permission from the interior ministry. The body was kept in the mortuary of the Rawalpindi District Headquarters Hospital for two weeks after it was recovered Lakki Marwat two weeks back.

Wajih Swati's body was recovered two weeks ago from a deep pit in a house in Lakki Marwat. Wajiha Swati was allegedly killed by her ex-husband Rizwan Habib along with five others.

Wajiha Swati will be buried in the United States according to the will of her children, who had earlier demanded to allow them to transport the body to the US.

Wajiha Swati arrived in Pakistan on October 16, 2021, from the US via the United Kingdom to settle a property dispute with her ex-husband Rizwan Habib. According to police, Wajiha Swati was first abducted by her ex-husband and later killed.

Rizwan Habib remained involved part of the investigation for two months before police formally arrested him on December 22 last year.

Rizwan Habib confessed to killing Wajiha Sani with the help of his father Hurriyatullah and domestic worker Sultan Khan after abducting her on her arrival from the US.

Police arrested all the accused and currently, they are on judicial remand in Adiala jail.

Police have also arrested the three co-accused for abetting in the crime.

After an autopsy, police obtained samples from the slain woman’s body for a DNA test. After confirmation of the DNA test, the body was handed over to heirs. Police officials had sought written permission from authorities concerned to transfer the body to the United States.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2022.