The body of 29-year-old Hamza, who went missing from Islamabad nearly a month ago, has been recovered from Mansehra. Police have taken retired Islamabad Police SP Arif Hussain Shah into custody as a prime suspect in the case.
According to sources, Hamza's body was found buried near the residence of retired SP Shah in his native village, Khaki, Mansehra. Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) SSP Hamza Humayun personally led the police team to Mansehra to recover the body.
The suspect, Arif Shah, was already in police custody during the investigation. After the body was exhumed, it was transported to Islamabad's Polyclinic Hospital for a post-mortem before being handed over to the victim's family.
Hamza, an employee of the Senate of Pakistan, had mysteriously disappeared on March 15, 2025. A case was filed at Aabpara Police Station. During the investigation, retired SP Shah was named and interrogated by the police. According to the victim's family, Hamza had a financial dispute with Arif Shah.
On the day of the incident, Hamza was allegedly lured to Shah's village in Khaki, Mansehra, where he was reportedly murdered and his body buried in a deserted area. The family also claims that Shah's son Wasif Shah and his brother-in-law were involved in the crime.
Yesterday, Islamabad police, along with a K9 unit, located Hamza's body in Khaki village. CTD SSP Humayun supervised the recovery operation, which faced resistance from local police and residents.
It is noteworthy that retired SP Shah had previously been implicated in the murder of a female police officer during his service in Islamabad Police.
Sources suggest the motive behind Hamza's murder was a financial dispute, as he had ongoing business dealings with Arif Shah. To mislead investigators, the suspects kept Hamza's three mobile phones switched on and later dumped them near the G-10 Metro Station in Islamabad, creating the illusion that he was still in the city.
Despite earlier arrest and interrogation of Arif Shah by Aabpara Police, no confession was obtained. However, the arrest of other relatives in Mansehra eventually led to the recovery of Hamza's body.
The tragic case has sparked outrage on social media, with citizens demanding swift justice and accountability for those involved. Human rights activists and legal experts have also called for a thorough and transparent investigation, citing concerns over the involvement of former law enforcement personnel.
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