Doctor murder accused still at large
The accused in the murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq were produced before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday, which remanded them into police custody for three days. Waheed "Billa", husband of the prime suspect Rida, has also been nominated in the case, while another principal accused, Shamrez, remains at large.
The suspectslinked to the kidnapping of Dr Warda five days earlier and her murder a day before their arrestwere brought to court under stringent security. In response to mounting pressure from the medical community and the public, the police arrested Rida's husband late at night.
Anti-terrorism provisions were subsequently added to the charges against him, and he too was presented before the court. Waheed Billa is a well-known cloth merchant in the city. Anticipating public outrage, the administration sealed all cloth markets belonging to the Billa family. However, the continued absence of the key accused, Shamrez, has intensified public anger and frustration with the police.
Doctors and citizens staged protests for a second consecutive day. At Benazir Shaheed Hospital, doctors held a demonstration and observed a complete strike. A condolence gathering was attended by doctors, nurses, paramedics and Class-IV staff, who prayed for the deceased and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Doctors from Ayub Medical Complex also came onto the Silk Road, blocking traffic and staging a sit-in. Alongside nurses, paramedics and support staff, they chanted slogans against the administration and police, calling for the arrest of the SHO Cantt and DSP Cantt and demanding the formation of a joint investigation team. Similar demonstrations were held at Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals in Havelian and Lora.
Dr Warda was laid to rest in the Cantonment graveyard the previous night. The entire hospital staff accompanied the body to her home, where scenes of profound grief unfolded. Her children, father and brother repeatedly lost consciousness, and fellow female doctors wept uncontrollably. Though the funeral prayer was offered at 10pm on Monday, a large number of people from all walks of life attended. She was buried shortly afterwards in the presence of her devastated family.
At dawn the following morning, colleagues from Benazir Shaheed Hospital visited her grave, laying flowers and sheets and offering prayers. Representatives of various social organisations visited the family home . The Hazara DIG met the bereaved family and assured them that every aspect of the case was being investigated.
In response to demands from the medical community, the Abbottabad DPO removed Sub-Inspector Zubair Khan from his position as Cantt Police Station SHO, appointing Inspector Ali Jadoon in his place. Doctors had accused the former SHO of mishandling the case and showing undue leniency towards the suspects, actions that further inflamed public anger.
Significant progress has since been made in the investigation. The post-mortem confirmed that Dr Warda had been subjected to severe physical torture: her cervical bone was fractured, and she died from strangulation and asphyxiation. Police revealed that she had entrusted 67 tolas of gold to her friend Rida two years earlier; she was murdered when she demanded its return. The medic was killed on the very day she was abducted.
Meanwhile, emergency services at DHQ Hospital have now been restored, although the doctors' strike continues.