Abbottabad police make major breakthrough in Dr Wardah Mushtaq's murder case

Abbottabad Police have claimed a major breakthrough in the murder case of Dr Wardah Mushtaq, recovering the victim’s personal belongings along with a large cache of arms and explosives from the residence of Shamraiz, the prime accused, who was allegedly killed in a police encounter.

According to police officials, the recovery was made based on the identification of an under-custody suspect, Adil, son of Chan Zaib, a resident of Banota. Acting on his disclosure, police conducted a search of Shamraiz’s house, where a concealed compartment built into a room window was discovered. From this hidden space, investigators recovered key items linked to the murder.

The recovered articles include Dr Wardah Mushtaq’s mobile phone, national identity card, ATM card, vehicle registration card, a photograph, and tools allegedly used in the crime, including a pickaxe and a shovel.

Police said Shamraiz, the main suspect in the case, had earlier been killed in an alleged police encounter. Following further disclosures by the arrested suspect, a substantial quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosive material was also recovered from the same hidden compartment.

The seized arsenal includes two RPG-7 rounds, two hand grenades, one 12-bore single-barrel repeater, one 12-bore shotgun, one .308 rifle, one 7mm rifle, one 8mm rifle, approximately 100 rounds of ammunition, nine magazines of various calibres, two daggers (one with a sheath and one without), and two binoculars, including one large-sized.

Police confirmed that the explosive material — two RPG-7 rounds and two hand grenades — was safely defused with the assistance of the Bomb Disposal Squad.

A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), Section 15-A of the Arms Act, and Section 5 of the Explosives Act. Further investigation is under way, while police have intensified efforts to trace and arrest other suspects connected with the case.

In another development, police arrested suspect Adil and recovered crucial evidence that could help advance the investigation. According to police sources, acting on Adil’s guidance, authorities recovered Dr Wardah’s mobile phone, national identity card, and ATM card from the house of another accused, Shamraiz.

The arrested suspect also revealed the location where Dr Wardah’s body had been buried. Following the recovery, police registered an FIR under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Adil was produced before the Anti-Terrorism Court, which granted a seven-day physical remand to allow further investigation and searches.

SP Ayaz Khan described the recovered arms as “heavy and sophisticated,” highlighting the serious nature of the case. Police have pledged to ensure swift justice in this high-profile murder case.