ABBOTTABAD: Three arrested accused, Rida Jadoon, her husband Waheed alias Billa, and Nadeem, on Monday denied charges after being produced before a judicial magistrate, while another accused, Pervez, recorded a confessional statement during proceedings related to the abduction and murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq.
The case took a new turn after the confession by one of the accused, just a day after the prime accused, Shamrez, was killed allegedly in a police encounter. The four arrested accused, Rida Jadoon, her husband Waheed alias Billa, Nadeem, and Pervez , were produced before a judicial magistrate after the completion of their physical remand, as directed by the Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC).
During the proceedings, Rida Jadoon and Waheed alias Billa denied all charges leveled against them in connection with the abduction and murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq. Accused Nadeem also pleaded innocence and rejected any involvement in the crime.
However, another accused, Pervez, recorded a confession before the magistrate, which is expected to play a key role in the ongoing investigation and prosecution. After hearing arguments, the Special ATC rejected the police request for further physical remand and ordered that the accused be sent to jail on judicial remand.
These court proceedings took place against the backdrop of a major development late Sunday night, when the prime fugitive suspect, Shamrez, was killed during an alleged police encounter.
According to police, the encounter occurred in the Maira Rahmat Khan area near Thandiani, within the jurisdiction of Nawanshehr Police Station, when police teams from Cantonment and Nawanshehr police stations were conducting an operation to arrest the accused.
Police stated that during the operation, Shamrez’s accomplices opened fire on the police party. In the exchange, Shamrez was allegedly hit by bullets fired by his own associates and died on the spot, while two accomplices fled under the cover of darkness.
A pistol along with ammunition was recovered from the scene, and special teams have been constituted to arrest the absconding suspects. The body of the deceased accused was shifted to Ayub Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination, and a case has been registered against the fleeing accomplices.
Following the encounter, District Police Officer (DPO) Abbottabad Haroon Rasheed Khan held an emergency press conference at his office at around 9:00 pm on Sunday. Briefing the media, the DPO outlined the background of the Dr Warda Mushtaq abduction and murder case and detailed the progress of the investigation.
He maintained that Shamrez was a central figure in the crime and reiterated that police were continuing efforts to arrest all remaining suspects and complete the investigation in accordance with the law.
However, the killing of the prime accused before the trial sparked concern among legal circles and the public, as Shamrez was believed to possess crucial information about the planning, execution, and facilitation of the crime.
As the trial proceeds, the court is expected to closely examine the available evidence, confessional statements, and police investigation to ensure that all those involved in the murder of Dr Warda Mushtaq are brought to justice through due legal process.
